|
Where Alliant goes, protestors follow
By John Molene - EDEN PRAIRIE NEWS
Thursday, November 29, 2007
AlliantACTION “peace activists” gather weekly to protest the policies of Minnesota’s largest military contractor.
When Alliant Techsystems Inc. moves to Eden Prairie in the spring, the activists who gather weekly to protest against the company’s practices will move with them.
Alliant Action, a small group of dedicated “peace activists,” a term they prefer over the word protestors, has been picketing the company since its days as Honeywell Systems Group in the early 1980s.
Each Wednesday since 1996 – regardless of the weather – a group of about 30 to 40 activists has met from 7 to 8 a.m. They now meet at a small public intersection in front of the Edina headquarters at 5050 Lincoln Drive of Alliant Techsystems (ATK).
At the event, which they refer to as a vigil, members of the group first recite a commitment to practice nonviolence, hold signs and banners, listen to announcements, sing, pray and fortify themselves to continue the fight against the weapons and space systems company.
“I don’t think they’re evil,” said Tom Bottolene of Alliant Action. “I think they [ATK] would say they’re helping to build a strong national defense. But really it’s all about making profit for their shareholders.”
While the group generally causes few problems for ATK, there have been numerous arrests over the years. By their own count, some 699 arrests have been made since 1996 for nonviolent acts of civil resistance at ATK. Just in October, 14 activists were arrested by Edina police on Gandhi’s birthday while attempting to offer balloons for the officers’ and ATK employees’ children.
About twice a year, Alliant Action stages major protests at ATK that draw several hundred activists. Those gatherings usually result in numerous citations for trespassing. The city of Edina passed an ordinance in 2005 that makes trespassing a petty misdemeanor, an action done in large part to address the vigils at ATK.
“Two times a year we will widen the activism,” said Sister Char Madigan of Minneapolis, 70 and a member of the Sisters of St. Joseph.
Activists have recently tried to deliver a notebook to Alliant CEOs describing some of the effects the products made by the company were having. Those actions usually have resulted in arrests and citations for trespassing.
ATK monitors the activists with two or three security personnel watching each gathering. There also is usually an Edina Police officer in a squad car parked near the vigil.
Alliant Techsystems spokesman Brian Grace had little to say about the activists, other than noting: “We fully support their first amendment rights. Our mission is to deliver the most effective tools to our men and women in uniform.”
Alliant Action members include Veterans for Peace, Sisters of St. Joseph, Woman Against Military Madness, area colleges and other justice and peace oriented groups and individuals. Regular vigil members include nuns, teachers, students and professionals, group members say.
While the peace activists say they are opposed to specific weapon systems produced by Alliant, they say their main concern is the violent solutions they say this Minnesota-based company represents to world conflict.
“Alliant would say they make these weapons to help provide for a good defense [for the United States],” said Madigan. “But what we believe Alliant makes – these weapons which violate the Geneva Convention – we believe Alliant makes these weapons mainly for military uses and sells them to 41 different countries. ... And the weapons they make keep on killing for years.”
Although the vigils and demonstrations have focused on different weapon systems over the years, Alliant Action’s main theme has always been to find ways to reduce the military budget, fund human needs, peace conversion and advocate for nonviolent alternatives to violent solutions for complex problems.
While directing their actions at ATK, the activists say their larger goal is an end to war and violence.
“I’m a pacifist,” said Bottolene. “If we don’t put an end to war, war will put an end to us.”
“I’m 84. I don’t want to leave such a world to the children,” added Sister Dorothy Olinger of St. Paul, who is a member of the School Sisters of Notre Dame.
For more on Alliant Action, see the Web site: www.alliantaction.org.
On nonviolence
AlliantACTION’s Commitment to Practice Nonviolence, which members recite before each vigil:
• We will use our anger at injustice as a positive force for change.
• We will refuse to return the assaults, verbal or physical of those with whom we disagree.
• We will refrain from insults and swearing.
• We will not damage property nor carry weapons.
• If arrested, as members of a nonviolent vigil or demonstration, we will behave in a nonviolent manner.
• We will not evade the legal consequences of our actions.
• In the event of a serious disagreement about this commitment to practice nonviolence we will remove ourselves from the action.
• Our attitude will be one of openness, friendliness and respect toward all people we encounter, including police officers and workers.
• We will walk and talk love of opponent, love of neighbor.
|
