JUBILEE PLOUGHSHARES 2000

  Early in the morning on November 3rd, 2000, Fr. Martin Newell, a Catholic priest from London, England and Susan van der Hijden, a Catholic Worker from Amsterdam, Holland, entered the Wittering Air Force Base in Cambridgeshire, England. Seeking to enact the biblical prophecy to "beat swords into plowshares," the two proceeded to disable a convoy truck being prepared to carry nuclear warheads for Trident nuclear submarines to Faslane, Scotland, the home-port for four British Tridents. They hammered inside the truck on the dashboard and on other equipment in the back of the vehicle. They also painted the words "The Kingdom of God is among you," "Drop the debt, not the bombs," and "Love is the fulfillment of the law."  The two then went in search of security personnel to inform them of their action, whereupon they were arrested and imprisoned. The two have been charged with burglary and two counts of criminal damage totaling 32,000 British pounds. At a January 5th court hearing the two pleaded not guilty to these charges. The two remain in prison, and as of late January, no trial date has been set.

    In their action statement they declared: "We have acted in a spirit of repentance for our complicity in crimes against humanity and God. We have acted to uphold the law. Through the Jubilee 2000 campaign, the church has committed herself to working for justice for the poor and oppressed. British nuclear weapons are a central part of the chains of oppression. As Christians we have taken responsibility and acted in solidarity with the 'least of the world."

    The two will be tried on May 21 at the Chelmsford Crown Court in Essex, England.