83-year-old nun gets 20 year sentence for ‘symbolic’ nuclear facility break-in

[rug]

By Stephen C. Webster
Thursday, May 9, 2013 15:06 EDT

An 83-year-old nun who broke into a Tennessee depleted uranium storage facility in 2012 and splashed human blood on several surfaces, exposing a massive security hole at the nation’s only facility used to store radioactive conventional munitions, was convicted Wednesday and sentenced to a term of up to 20 years in prison.

The only regret Sister Megan Rice shared with members of her jury on Wednesday was that she wished 70 years hadn’t passed before she took direct action, according to the BBC. She and two other peace activists, 64-year-old Michael Walli and 56-year-old Greg Boertje-Obed, were convicted of “invasion of a nuclear facility” in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, even though investigators admitted they did not get close to any actual nuclear material.

The three activists are part of a group called “Transform Now Plowshares,” a reference to the book of Isaiah, which says, “They shall beat their swords into plowshares. They shall learn war no more.” All three face individual sentences of up to 20 years, along with a litany of fines.

As they invaded the Y-12 National Security Complex at Oak Ridge, a perimeter fence was cut, several surfaces were spray-painted, banners were hung and activists read from the Bible. They also spread human blood on several surfaces, saying its use was symbolic, meant to remind people “of the horrific spilling of blood by nuclear weapons.”

http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2013/05/09/83-year-old-nun-gets-20-year-sentence-for-symbolic-nuclear-facility-break-in/

http://transformnowplowshares.wordpress.com/

[Larkspur]

1. I wonder if the prosecutor of this case will use it to run for

elected office. He/she can boldly claim they stopped homegrown religious terrorists from creating a dirty bomb.

[monmouth3]

2. Society is so much safer now that this little old lady is behind bars. Do I need the sarc?..n/t

[Gregorian]

3. I don't like the counterproductive garbage sme of my taxes pay for.

On just that tax subject there should be outrage regarding this.

And then there's the just plain bs part of it that everyone should be upset about. Utter nonsense.

[asjr]

4. My father worked at Y-12. We never learned what he did there as he would not tell us.

[Travis_0004]

5. Thats a pretty stiff sentence.

I'm not saying they should have got 20 years, but you can't break into a nuclear facility, and not expect to get at least some jail time.

[dimbear]

6. Jail doors won't hold her in any more than they would Saint Paul.

Going out on a limb here, pretty sure she'll do a few days.

[rug]

7. There is no federal parole.

[dimbear]

8. There are pardons. n/t

[rug]

10. Well,I hope he doesn't wait too long if he's going to do it.

The judge wanted to send a message; the President can send a louder message.

[dimbear]

11. Agreed. n/t

[okasha]

13. Leonard Peltier is still waiting.

nt

[LiberalAndProud]

9. It is notable that Scooter Libby was pardoned.

So, there is that. I hope.

[locks]

12. Irony

When we commit actions for peace and to expose the lack of security at the dangerous nuclear facilities we call "safe" we expect to go to prison. We expect to be called misguided and unpatriotic. When those who produce and drop nuclear bombs which kill 136,000 people at once they expect to be called heroes and patriots.