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News :: Miscellaneous |
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Greenpeace Activists Sentenced to One Month in Jail in Starwars Protest |
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by Greenpeace USA
(No verified email address) |
09 May 2001
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KWAJALEIN, MARSHALL ISLANDS - May 8 - Two Greenpeace protestors received a one month jail sentence, of which they will serve one week in prison, following yesterday's non-violent protest against the U.S. Star Wars program, at the U.S. missile test range in the Marshall Islands. |
Mike Townsley, 37 of Scotland and Anne Marie Rasmussen, 21 of Denmark, plead guilty to one count of trespass for holding up an anti- Star Wars banner at the U.S. military base on Kwajalein at the heart of the Star Wars testing program. They received a one month jail sentence with three weeks of this suspended. The pair are currently jailed on Ebeye, a small island two miles north of the U.S. military base on Kwajalein. They will be transferred to a jail in the capital city of Majuro on Saturday for the remainder of their sentence.
"A seven-day jail sentence is a ridiculous overreaction to a non- violent protest," said Melanie Duchin, Greenpeace Disarmament Campaigner on board the Rainbow Warrior in the Marshall Islands. "It's testament to the fact that the Bush administration is not seeking consultation, it wants to quell all public debate and protest against Star Wars, which threatens to ignite a new nuclear arms race" Duchin continued.
The protest coincided with the beginning of a U.S. diplomatic offensive to sell Star Wars to Europe, Japan and Australia. In particular, support of the U.K. and Denmark are vital if the U.S. is to include the Fylingdales and Thule early-warning radar in their plans.
For photos/ video or more information, contact: Greenpeace Media Department (202) 483-1122 ext. 229
For more information, visit our nuclear disarmament section: |
See also:
http://www.greenpeaceusa.org/nuclear/
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