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Lynne Greenwald, on the day of her arraignment in Dec. 2009
photo by Leonard Eiger, Ground Zero Center
Nuclear Weapons Resister Found Guilty of Trespassing at Bangor
from the Ground Zero Center
Nuclear weapons resister Lynne Greenwald was tried in United States District Court, Tacoma, Washington on March 3, 2010, and found guilty of trespassing on Federal government property.
Greenwald was charged with trespassing on a restricted area during a vigil and nonviolent action at Naval Base Kitsap-Bangor, Washington on August 10, 2009 while carrying a banner that read “Abolish Nuclear Weapons: Resist Trident". Greenwald was taking part in Ground Zero’s recognition of the 64th Anniversary of the US Bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
Greenwald, who represented herself at the trial, presented the following opening statement: “I will provide testimony that any action on August 10, 2009 at the Trident Nuclear Submarine Base, was not illegal, but was in fact an act of upholding International and Humanitarian Laws as well as the US Constitution. Testimony will reveal that there was no intent to commit a crime, but based on my understanding of these laws as they relate to war and specifically nuclear weapons, actions were taken this day to uphold these laws and to prevent further criminal acts by my government.”
Greenwald had earlier entered the base during a demonstration on May 15, 2006, in which she was arrested and presented with a barment letter. The prosecutor stated that Greenwald was warned at that time that any further trespass on federal property would result in her arrest and possible prosecution.
Greenwald attempted to provide personal testimony, giving the reasons for her actions. She began by stating that the Trident submarine is a first strike weapon, and that any use of such a weapon is a crime under international law. The judge interrupted Greenwald during her testimony, and instructed her that the “only question before the court is regarding trespass.” Greenwald reiterated her belief that she “crossed the blue line not to commit a crime, but to uphold international law. I believe that the authority of international humanitarian law requires me to take such action.”
Greenwald's closing statement: “An act of civil resistance to prevent the ongoing commission of crimes under well recognized principles of international law and US domestic constitutional and criminal laws was taken on August 10, 2009 at the Trident Nuclear Submarine Base in Kitsap County. As a member of the international community, and as a citizen of the US, I was privileged to act under the Nuremberg Principle to prevent continued violation of international laws. I testified that I was compelled by a good-faith belief that by taking reasonable, nonviolent and affirmative acts to directly confront and to oppose the commission of crimes by the US government officials, I was in fact justified in entering this Navy base by the basic principles of international law. The Court must find me not guilty of any criminal act.”
Judge Strombold, in handing down sentencing, stated that this was a classic case of rights to speak and protest, and that she did not believe that the Nuremberg Principles justify trespassing on government property. She also stated that international law principles are not an issue in this case. Her final point was that the “defense raised here is not a legal defense that can be used in this case.”
Judge Strombold found Greenwald guilty of trespass, and ordered a sentencing report before Greenwald’s sentencing hearing scheduled for May 5, 2010.
Approximately 25 supporters of Greenwald held a pre-trial vigil outside the courthouse, and many were in the courtroom to witness the trial.
Greenwald is also a member of the Disarm Now Plowshares group of five that entered the Bangor submarine base in the early morning hours of November 2, 2009, All Souls Day, with the intent of calling attention to the illegality and immorality of the existence of the Trident weapons system.
All five made their way to and entered the Strategic Weapons Facility-Pacific (SWFPAC) where US strategic nuclear weapons are stored. Before being arrested they held a banner saying, “Disarm Now Plowshares: Trident: Illegal + Immoral”, left a trail of blood, hammered on the roadway (Trigger Ave and Sturgeon), and hammered on the fences around SWFPAC. They also scattered sunflower seeds throughout the base. The initial charges brought against the Disarm Now five were abruptly dropped, and no new charges have yet been filed.
Greenwald is a mother, grandmother and social worker, as well as a member of Ground Zero Center for Nonviolent Action in Poulsbo, Washington.
For over thirty years Ground Zero has engaged in education, training in nonviolence, community-building, resistance against Trident and action toward a world without nuclear weapons.
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