GODS OF METAL PLOWSHARES, Jonah House 1301 Moreland, Baltimore, MD 21216 PH: 410-233-6238 PRESS RELEASE-- IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 8, 1998 CONTACT: Max Obuszewski [410] 323-7200 or 377-7987 or maxo@igc.apc.org Jonah House [410] 233-6238 or disarmnow@igc.apc.org GODS OF METAL PLOWSHARES TO BE ARRAIGNED WHO: On May 17, 1998, the 30th anniversary of the Catonsville Nine protest, five peace activists enacted the biblical prophecy of Isaiah to beat swords into plowshares at an air show outside Washington, D.C. Sr. Carol Gilbert and Sr. Ardeth Platte from Baltimore’s Jonah House, Fr. Frank Cordaro from Des Moines, Iowa, Fr. Larry Morlan, from Bloomington, Ill., and Kathy Shields Boylan, from Washington, D.C.’s Dorothy Day Catholic Worker, in calling themselves the Gods of Metal Plowshares, hammered and poured blood on a B-52 bomber during the Department of Defense Open House at Andrews Air Force Base, located outside Washington, D.C. in Prince George’s County, Mary. The Gods of Metal Plowshares intentionally disarmed a dual-capable weapon of mass destruction. They carried out their nonviolent protest in accordance with the prophets, Isaiah 2:4 and Micah 4:3: "…They shall hammer their swords into plowshares and spears into pruning hooks." WHAT: After the Gods of Metal Plowshares hammered, leafletted, prayed and threw their own blood, military and civilian police placed the five religious activists under arrest at 9:45 AM. The following afternoon, the five activists were brought before U.S. Federal Magistrate Jillyn Schultz who indicated they were facing two federal charges: 1] injury, over $1,000, to government property, which carries a maximum sentence of ten years and a $250,000 fine; and injury or attempted injury to property in a federal jurisdiction, with a possible sentence of 5 to 20 years and a $250,000 fine. Remarkably, the activists were released on personal recognizance. Since their release, the five religious activists were notified by their attorney advisor David Walsh Little that the governments intends to dismiss the felony charges and charge them with one misdemeanor count of willful injury to government property, less than $1,000 damage, which carries a possible sentence of one year in jail. They are scheduled to be arraigned. WHEN: 10:00 AM on Tuesday, June 9, 1998 WHERE: Federal Court, Southern District, 6500 Cherrywood Lane, Greenbelt, Maryland WHY: The Gods of Metal Plowshares accepted release on personal recognizance, once Judge Schultz agreed to cross out the language "willing to obey." Since the initial court proceeding, the government reassessed its strategy of severe charges. It is assumed the government is wary of placing two nuns, two priests and a grandmother in prison for many years. Though the disarmament was symbolic, the hammering must have resulted in more than $1,000 damage. They acted to unmasked the idolatry of the gods of metal, celebrated in this nuclear liturgy of the Open House. They nonviolently disarmed this weapon of mass destruction in a plea for the cause of peace with justice and the abolition of war. They celebrated God as "True Security" rather than accept weapons and violence as restorers or maintainers of peace. They poured their blood as a sign of their willingness to lay down their lives rather than taking the lives of others. They announced weapons and their carriers in air, land, sea and space are in fact idols. They asked others not to celebrate or worship gods of metal for they defile all of creation. Finally, they encouraged people of good will to explore similar opportunities to put love into action until justice is established and peace prevails. They acted in memory of the action of the Catonsville Nine, who thirty years ago burned draft files to awaken all to the immorality of the Vietnam War. In this witness at Andrews Air Force Base, the Gods of Metal Plowshares hammered a total of 30 times on the bomber to continue the legacy and tradition of Daniel and Philip Berrigan and seven other religious activists who acted on May 17, 1968 at a draft board office in Catonsville, Maryland. Ardeth Platte, OP, a Dominican sister living in community at Baltimore’s Jonah House, is originally from Grand Rapids, Mich. A former high school teacher, administrator and City Councilwoman, she has engaged in previous Plowshares actions. Kathy Shields Boylan, a grandmother, is a mother of five children. She is a member of the Dorothy Day Catholic Worker in Washington, D.C. and has been involved in previous Plowshares actions. Rev. Larry Morlan is a Roman Catholic priest in the diocese of Peoria, Ill. He is a former member of the Davenport, Iowa Catholic Worker and a struggling resister. He also has previously been involved in a Plowshares action. Carol Gilbert, OP, is a Dominican sister, formerly from Grand Rapids, Mich., but currently a member of the Jonah House resistance community. She is a former school teacher, who has been involved in previous Plowshares activities. Rev. Frank Cordaro is a Roman Catholic priest and pastor at Holy Trinity of southeast Warren County in Iowa. As a co-founder of the Catholic Worker house/community in Des Moines, Iowa in 1976, he has been an active worker for justice and peace for more than twenty years. ********************************************************************************