Elderly Nun Convicted in Weapons Protest, Only Regrets to Waiting 70 Years to Take Action

According to published reports, Sister Megan Rice, an 83-year old nun, was convicted along with two other peace activists for damages they caused during a break-in at the Y-12 nuclear defense site in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. The elderly nun said the site was responsible for making "that which can only cause death."

Sister Megan was convicted along with Michael Walli, 64, and Greg Boertje-Obed, 56. The trio admitted that they cut fences to enter the facility that processes and stores uranium last July. The protestors belong to the group Transform Now Plowshares. They were also found guilty of causing over $1,000 in damages. The jury deliberated for two and a half hours before finding them guilty. They face up to ten years in prison for sabotage.

The activists spent two hours inside the facility. They spray-painted words, chipped at a wall with hammers, strung crime scene tape and sprayed the exterior of the complex with baby bottles containing human blood. When they were confronted by a guard, they offered him food and sang hymns.

The Y-12 nuclear defense site was constructed during the Manhattan project, which was part of a major operation to develop the first nuclear bomb.

Michael Walli and Boertje-Obed testified in their own defense. They told jurors that they had no remorse for their actions. “Our actions were providing real security and exposing false security. Nuclear weapons do not provide security. Our actions were providing real security and exposing false security."

Defense lawyers called the break-in symbolic and said it was not the defendants’ intention to hurt the facility. Officials admitted that the protestors never got close to nuclear material. In closing arguments, the prosecutor, Jeffrey Theodore, said "We are a nation of laws. You can't take the law into your own hands and force your views on other people."

Because of the protestors' action, Congress and the energy department investigated the facility and found "troubling displays of ineptitude," resulting in the reassignment of several top officials. The company that provided security at the facility, WSI, was dismissed. Defense lawyers contended that prosecutors overreached in their charges due to embarrassment.

Sister Megan smiled when the verdict was read. Her supporters wept and sang a hymn as the judge left. The heroic sister said she only regrets that she waited 70 years to take action.

by Tony Sokol