WEEP FOR CHILDREN PLOWSHARES

Early in the morning, on July 27, 1996, the day of the launching of the 18th Trident submarine, Sr. Elizabeth Walters, I.H.M., from Michigan; Sr. Carol Gilbert, O.P. and Sr. Ardeth Platte, O.P. from Jonah House; and Kathy Boylan from Dorothy Day Catholic Worker in Washington, DC, entered the Naval Submarine Base in Groton, CT.

During their liturgy of disarmament they poured blood on a torpedo test cylinder used inside fast attack submarines. They then began a universal peace dance and sang, “We begin in the name of our God.”

They proceeded to hammer 18 times on the test cylinder, symbolic of their rejection of 18 Trident submarines that have been built. Once sailors and security appeared nearby, they put down their hammers decorated with rainbow ribbons and pictures of children, baby bottles with recorded messages of peace, and documents substantiating the immorality and illegality of nuclear weapons. Thy covered the weapon piece with a banner – WEEP FOR CHILDREN PLOWSHARES and knelt down and continued their liturgy.

They were arrested by military and security personnel and charged with trespass and willful injury to government property.

They were tried in U.S. Federal Court in Hartford in September. During closing remarks, the Prosecutor declared: “These women must be stopped because they are just like the Oklahoma City bomber!” Obviously amazed, Judge Thomas Smith firmly disagreed and stated that the women were following a higher law. They were sentenced to 1000 hours community service.

Sr. Ardeth's Sentencing Statement