The bus originated in Oakland and we stopped in San Jose and Salinas on the way down to pick up more anti-nuke/pro-humanity activists and met dozens of others who were already near the entry of the base at about 11:30pm. The “launch window” was open from 2am to 8am on the 25th. The missile was destined to come down about 25 minutes after launch in the Marshall Islands.
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| Cindy speaking at rally |
As stated, Daniel Ellsberg was there at the protest, along with long time launch opponent, Fr. Louis Vitale, who figured he has been arrested 108 times at Vandenberg (to add to his opposition to the School of Assassins, where he has been arrested and spent significant time in prison). After the short rally, I jumped at the chance to cross the actual line with them that separates real America from Vandenberg AFB where dozens of MPs awaited this “trespassing” by about 17 protesters.
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| Cindy, Fr. Louis and Daniel |
After the most invasive search (molestation) that I have ever experienced during a detention from one of the apparently female MPs (only one other activist was as violated as I was), I was handcuffed and put into a van with Dan, Fr. Louis, and four other women, two of whom had never been arrested before. As a matter of fact, many of the 17 who were arrested were "first timers." Except for the usual wonderful camaraderie that occurs in these situations, the rest of our detention was boring processing until we were driven in the same van about five miles away from the base and unceremoniously dumped in the parking lot of Vandenberg Village, a small shopping center, at around 3am. I wondered aloud if we were going to get “ten bucks and a new suit of clothes.”As our cuffs were being cut off (yes, we were cuffed the entire time), the ground began to rumble and a loud noise began to emanate from the direction of the base. The MPs stopped what they were doing to gaze adoringly in the direction of the launch, while we activists paused in horror and sorrow. One of the MPs actually choked out, “that’s the sound of freedom.”
Speechless.
The sound of a Minute Man 3 missile being launched is the sound of abject tyranny.
It’s the sound of the tortured screams of the Japanese being incinerated in their beds or slowly poisoned to death by deadly radiation exposure.
It’s the sound of a child whimpering with pain in Basra, Iraq, because she contracted leukemia or another cancerous condition due to the US's use of depleted uranium in her country. It’s also the sound of her doctor crying with frustration because he can’t treat her properly due to the lack of medicine or other treatments available to him. It's the sound of dirt being shoveled for her grave and the tortured cries of her parents.
The launch of one more missile is the sound of handcuffs being tightened at the back (click, click, click--Ow!) around the wrists of one more peaceful protester. Or worse yet, it’s the sound of tear gas canisters being shot into a crowd or students being pepper sprayed while sitting with arms linked in peaceful resistance. This is not in Syria or North Korea, these sounds are becoming more frequent here in the "homeland."
Freedom? What if, instead of hearing the launch, Sergeant MP was hearing the deafening whine of approaching doom? Would his first thought be, “freedom?” Or would his last thought be, “shit, this is it?”
The sound of a Minute Man 3 missile being fired is the sound of silence ringing in the halls of many schools that are forced to close doors because of the absolute fealty this nation pays to the military industrial complex. As one of my contacts said, it’s like firing an elementary school into space.
This absolute fealty to the industry of death and destruction will inevitably lead to the sound of the collapse of Empire. The collapse of Empire will sound like armageddon to some, but will be music to the ears of others.
The Green Tortoise left Vandenberg at about 4am filled with three-dozen tired, but happy protesters. We napped, we sang, we talked on the seven hour trip home. It was the sound of anger, frustration, and sorrow, but it was also the sound of resolve and success. I firmly believe that our, for lack of a better term, “witness” at the event had a profound impact on at least one of the MPs, and who knows who else?
One of our comrades in the bus stated that he “supported Democrats” because historically, the trends are better when a Democrat is in power. After reminding him that a Democrat dropped not one, but two bombs; and about the “Carter Doctrine” or Presidential Directive 48, a tired, but tranquil Fr. Louie spoke up:
“Obama has said that NO option is off the table in dealing with Iran—so we have to assume that includes nuking a school full of Iranian children.”
And people wonder why I don’t pay federal income taxes?
We detainees were cited and released, but we will be forced soon to travel down to Santa Barbara soon to be arraigned. Some will plead, "guilty" and pay a fine anywhere from $250 to as high as $5000---mostly because going to Santa Barbara is a huge inconvenience.
This struggle began a long time ago when physicist Albert Einstein founded the world's first anti-nuke organization and it continues. I know at least for myself and Daniel Ellsberg and a few others, we will plead, "Hell no, not guilty," and fight the higher crime of nuclear weapons.
Some more inconvenient truths:
Photos from The Santa Barbara Independent