Dear Kings
Bay Plowshares Defendants, Families and Supporters,
Thousands of
people support the actions for peace that the Kings Bay Plowshares took in
early April, 2018. Those who risked their freedom to challenge our
nation’s use of nuclear weapons are true inspirations for all of us.
However, in
my experience with other cases like this, some agents of the government are not
satisfied with arresting the courageous people who took the
action. Some government agents are interested in arresting and
prosecuting anyone who they think provided any support to the people who took
the action. Our communities support them. Nothing illegal
in that at all. But some government agents are likely looking
to identify and prosecute people who provided actual support to our Plowshares
friends in their action at Kings Bay.
All
defendants, families and supports should know these facts and take action
accordingly.
First, in
cases like this government agents have shown up unannounced at the homes or
work places of supporters asking questions. Please know you have a
constitutional right to remain silent and not to speak with government
agents. Politely advise any agents that you are exercising your
constitutional right to remain silent until you have consulted with an attorney. Do
not lie to them, that is a crime. Do not try to outsmart them, they
are trained in their jobs and they know what they are doing. They
are trained to act like they are very friendly and just curious and make you
feel bad for not talking with them. If you do not have an attorney,
give them my name and phone number and I will talk to them on your
behalf.
Second, know
that every phone call in and out of the jail is recorded and it will be
listened to by law enforcement. Same with postcards and visits. Please
do not write or say anything that would get you or one of the defendants or
anyone else in trouble.
Third, the
government seized the cellphones which defendants brought onto the base with
them. The information in those cellphones will give the government a
list of contacts with defendants. Since many of us are friends with
some or all of the defendants we should assume our connections and contact
information is known to the government.
Fourth, the
government reads and monitors Facebook and all other social
media. Don’t write anything that you would mind the government
reading out loud to the judge or jury in this case.
Finally, it
is not paranoid to think the government might be monitoring phones and email
messages, especially those of people whose contact information was in the
phones seized on the base. Act boldly, love bravely, but also try
not to get anyone else in trouble and act smartly.
Engaging in
civil disobedience and risking arrest for your principles is an American
tradition. But let’s try to make sure that only the people who
knowingly risked arrest are arrested.
Peace and
love and respect,
Bill Quigley
Donations can be sent to the Baltimore Nonviolence Center,
325 E. 25th St., Baltimore, MD 21218. Ph: 410-323-1607; Email:
mobuszewski2001 [at] comcast.net. Go to http://baltimorenonviolencecenter.blogspot.com/
"The master class has always declared the wars; the
subject class has always fought the battles. The master class has had all to
gain and nothing to lose, while the subject class has had nothing to gain and
everything to lose--especially their lives." Eugene Victor Debs
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