Ground Zero Center for Nonviolent Action remembered the anniversaries of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki with a silent vigil and nonviolent direct action at the Main Gate of Naval Base Kitsap-Bangor, home to the largest concentration of deployed nuclear weapons in the U.S.
Approximately 25 people gathered at Ground Zero Center for Nonviolent Action early Monday morning, August 10, 2020. After a blessing by Reverend Jessica Starr Rocker of the Kitsap Unitarian Universalist Church and the collective reading of the Pledge of Nonviolence, those gathered walked to the Naval Base Kitsap-Bangor Main Gate, led by Senji Kanaeda and Gilberto Perez, monks from the Bainbridge Island Nipponzan Miyohoji Buddhist Temple.
Photo by Glen Milner
The group arrived at the Main Gate at 6:45 am and formed a line on the shoulder for a silent witness, with drumming by the monks. Both Washington State Patrol (WSP) and base security were present.
Three people held a banner – “Renounce Militarism Defund the Pentagon” – from the overpass facing incoming traffic.
At approximately 7:05AM four Peacekeepers entered the road to safely stop traffic. Six people then entered the roadway. Larry Kerschner, Bernie Meyer and Michael “Firefly” Siptroth held a banner: declaring, “Hiroshima Nagasaki Never Again”. George Rodkey and Mack Johnson held a “No More Genocide in My Name” banner. Banner holders took a knee, while Rev. Gilberto Perez stood drumming and wearing a Black Lives Matter sign that was carried on the 2020 Peace Walk for a Nuclear-Free World & Black Lives Matter. Traffic was stopped for 5-10 minutes while resisters blocked the roadway.
Photo by Glen Milner
All those (named above) who participated in the nonviolent direct action by blocking the roadway were escorted off by WSP. No citations were issued. The vigil continued until around 7:30, and participants then walked back to Ground Zero Center for a closing circle.
The following statement was collectively written by those who risked arrest in the nonviolent direct action :
On the 75th anniversary of the genocidal devastation of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and in a time of universal upheaval brought on by racial injustice, climate crisis, and global pandemic, we view the nuclear weapons housed at Naval Base Kitsap as the ultimate existential danger of our time.
Nuclear weapons are the knee on the neck all people of the globe, choking the life out of our planet.
Any order to launch nuclear weapons would be illegal under International law. We appeal to military personnel to stand down and to refuse all such orders.
We appeal to all of our fellow citizens to demand abolition of all nuclear weapons and to re-direct the colossal expenditure of resources to meet human needs.
Monday’s vigil and action ended a weekend of remembrance at Ground Zero Center, which included a keynote address by Ramona Bennett, former chair of the Puyallup Tribal Council and a longtime advocate for indigenous rights and environmental justice.
Other major outreach efforts by Ground Zero Center directly related to the remembrance of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki included:
- Billboards in four Seattle locations, beginning on July 13th, stating: Naval Base Kitsap-Bangor… Base with largest concentration of deployed nuclear weapons in the U.S., Remembering the Atomic Bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Accept Responsibility!
- A paid public service announcement in the Kitsap Sun newspaper on August 2nd and 10th: An Appeal to Navy Personnel on the 75th Year Remembrance of the Atomic Bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
- A paid public service announcement in the Kitsap Sun on August 6th: Remembering the Atomic Bomb Victims of Hiroshima, Japan.
- A paid public service announcement in the Kitsap Sun on August 9th: Remembering the Atomic Bomb Victims of Nagasaki, Japan.
Billboard on Aurora Avenue, Seattle. (Photo by Yuriko Brunelle)
CLICK HERE to read the full Press Release about the August 10th vigil and nonviolent direct action.
Editor’s Note: Feature photo (resisters blocking roadway with banners) by Glen Milner
