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  4. 9 Men & 12 Women Arrested After Easter Sunday Mass Followed By Simultaneous Vigils at Creech AFB & NTS

9 Men & 12 Women Arrested After Easter Sunday Mass Followed By Simultaneous Vigils at Creech AFB & NTS

Submitted by John Amidon on Mon, 04/05/2010 - 12:17

NDE Media Release April 5, 2010 

MERCURY, NV: On Sunday April 4th at the conclusion of the Sacred Peace Walk, pilgrims to America's nuclear proving grounds walked to the boundary of the Nevada Test Site led by Western Shoshone families. About 40 people were gathered for Mass near the boundary, then 21 people decided to cross the line, for which they were arrested by Nye County Sherrifs. U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) employees were on the scene, confiscating flags and banners from the peace activists who were arrested. On Easter Monday two of the prayer-activists repeated their line-crossing at 7:00 AM, while another vigil continued at Creech AFB, just 19 miles away in Indian Springs, NV. Each Nye County citation issued for trespassing carried a $632 price tag.

Since 1988 such citations have carried no legal weight when peace activists conduct these rituals of civil resistance. None ever pay the fine, and Nye County never follows up on these "arrests". Western Shoshone officials and NDE participants agree that Nye County and the DOE violate international law by nuclear weapons activities in Nevada and the "arrests are unlawful because of the internationally disputed zone of the Nevada Test Site. "Each vigiler has a permit from the Western Shoshone National Council to come, gather and go in their country, including at the perimiter of the Nevada Test Site," said Marcus Page of NDE.

"We walked in the footsteps of a long legacy of peace walkers and spiritual leaders to draw attention to the nuclear dangers that continue to threaten our sacred planet and the community of life," said another participant. 

According to Sacred Peace Walker Colette Wisnewski, "My grandaughter carries my genes. I pray today that she will accept her spiritual inheritance and move her prayer into action against atrocities in this world."

NDE's 62-mile, annual pilgrimage to the Nevada Test Site began on March 29 with an orientation in Las Vegas and preparation for our six-day walk starting on March 30. The main Walk ends on Sunday (which happens to be Easter), with an extra special action on Monday for those who can hang out longer in the desert.

We have a support vehicle available for those who need extra support, and for emergencies as well. Some Walkers on the Sacred Peace Walk only come for a few days--all are welcome to do as much or as little of the SPW as the Spirit calls.