Weapons manufacturer shut down by protesters
Citizen inspection team denied entry to Y12

Mar. 30— Six citizens were arrested today at the Y12 Nuclear Weapons Plant in Oak Ridge, Tennessee when they blockaded traffic, shutting down the bomb plant for violations of the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty.

Department of Energy officials at the Y12 National Security Complex in Oak Ridge, TN denied entry to a Citizen Inspection Team which sought access to the plant in order to assess US compliance with the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty.

Among those arrested were Anne Hablas, of Jacksboro, TN, Meagan Carter, from Knoxville, TN, Shelley Wascom, of Lake City, TN, Judy Ross, of Balsam, NC, and Abigail Fletcher and Rebecca Wood, both of Washington, DC.

“Using the philosophy of President Bush, we decided that failure to cooperate with inspectors was an admission of guilt,” said Marcelle Good, spokeswoman for the Oak Ridge Environmental Peace Alliance, sponsors of the day’s march, rally, and direct action.

“But more than that, we have DOE’s own documentation and numerous newspaper articles to confirm that DOE is, in fact, building nuclear weapons components at Y12 in violation of the 1969 Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty which obligates us to pursue complete disarmament ‘at an early date.’”

Hundreds of citizens from around the country attended the rally for peace in Oak Ridge on a chilly Sunday, including large delegations from Michigan, Kentucky, North Carolina, and Tennessee.

“We came to say the United States needs to lead the world away from the nuclear abyss,” said Kim Joy Bergier of Michigan, “and the way to start is by complying with the nonproliferation treaty. If we move to abolish our nuclear arsenal, other countries can be encouraged to join us. Everyone wins when the bombs go away.”

OREPA organizers said they were not surprised at the DOE’s refusal to grant them entry. “Clearly, they have plenty to hide,” said Ralph Hutchison, coordinator of OREPA.

The refusal of DOE to grant access triggered an immediate petition, signed by hundreds of demonstrators, to the United Nations (UN). The petition calls for a UN authorized team of inspectors to come to Y12 to assess compliance with the Nonproliferation Treaty.

“We believe the United States has a responsibility to do what it asks other nations to do. If weapons of mass destruction are bad for Iraq and North Korea, they’re bad for us. If inspections are in order for other countries, they are in order here,” said Good.

Sunday’s action for peace was part of the Stop the Bombs campaign. The next large action for peace in Oak Ridge is scheduled for Aug. 9-10, 2003.

Source: Oak Ridge Environmental Peace Alliance

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