NSA finally goes after four peace activists

by: Max Obuszewski/BERN

North America: As part of the International Day of Protest Against the Militaisation of Space, organised by the Global Network Against Weapons & Nuclear Power in Space, Baltimore Emergency Response Network (BERN) members Ellen Barfield and Max Obuszewski, and Jonah House activists Sister Carol Gilbert, OP and Sister Ardeth Platte, OP, went to the National Security Agency [9800 Savage Road, Fort Meade, Maryland] on 12 October 2001, despite the fact the area was on highest alert. At 7am, they walked through an open gate to try to deliver a letter to Lt General Michael V Hayden, head of the National Security Agency, demanding a meeting. BERN has tried to obtain a meeting with the director of the NSA each year since 1996.

However, a security breach alert was sounded, and at least nine vehicles, soldiers with drawn weapons and dogs soon arrived. The NSA officials would not permit a meeting with Gen Hayden, so Gilbert and Platte poured their own blood on the asphalt to represent all victims of the NSA's work. Obuszewski held a sign "Unmask the Body of Secrets...No Star Wars...Nonviolence Now...International Day of Protest - Oct. 12-13, 2001," while Barfield's banner read "No War On Afghanistan, Iraq, Whomever; No Spying, No Star Wars, Work for Peace, Please!"

At the time each demonstrator was arrested and charged with trespass (carrying a maximum sentence of six months/US$2500 fine), destruction of government property (one year) and conspiracy (five years). The protesters were eventually released on personal recognisance, but waited almost five months before receiving notice to appear in federal court.

All four are now due to appear at US district court in Baltimore on 22 March 2002. One can only speculate why the Department of Defense decided to finally prosecute the activists. It is suspected, though, the continued antiwar protests by the NSA Four may have played a role.

The four defendants hope to use their trial to expose the NSA cloak of secrecy, its covert actions, confrontations, undisclosed annual budgets and interceptor sites throughout the world. They will argue the secret activities of the intelligence agency actually make this country less secure.

Contact
Max Obuszewski (+1 410 323 7200 or 377 7987; email mobuszewski@afsc.org)
Or
Global Network Against Weapons & Nuclear Power in Space PO Box 90083, Gainesville, FL 32607, USA (+1 352 337 9274; email globalnet@mindspring.com; http://www.space4peace.org).

Source: Max Obuszewski/BERN