Pictured above are the three anti-nuclear weapons protesters who broke into the Y-12 National Security Complex on July 28. From left, they are Michael Walli, Megan Rice, and Greg Boertje-Obed.
Note: This story was last updated at 12:51 p.m.
KNOXVILLE—The case against three anti-nuclear weapons activists who broke into the Y-12 National Security Complex in July and vandalized a uranium storage building could go to a jury this afternoon.
The government rested its case yesterday, and the defense rested this morning after the three defendants—Greg Boertje-Obed, Megan Rice, and Michael Walli—testified.
The three acknowledge sneaking into Y-12 on July 28, cutting through high-security fences, and pouring blood and spray-painting biblical passages on the Highly Enriched Uranium Materials Facility, where most of the nation’s bomb-grade uranium is stored. But they say they were religiously motivated and peacefully protesting the plant’s nuclear weapons work, symbolically disarming the 811-acre plant.
They have argued that nuclear weapons work is a war crime that they are obligated to help stop. During his testimony this morning, Walli called nuclear weapons work a terrorist activity.
The government, meanwhile, has argued that the unprecedented security breach caused a significant disruption, including a roughly two-week shutdown in nuclear operations at Y-12 and a delay in a secure, classified shipment that had been scheduled to arrive at the plant the same day the protesters broke in.
Calling their action Transform Now Plowshares, Boertje-Obed, Rice, and Walli have been charged with property depredation of more than $1,000 and willfully injuring the national defense. They face a potential prison sentence of up to 30 years.
They have pleaded not guilty.
Three anti-nuclear weapons activists who sneaked into the Y-12 National Security Complex on July 28 splashed human blood and, quoting Proverbs, sprayed paint on the Highly Enriched Uranium Materials Facility. The protesters also hammered the building, causing it to chip, and strung up crime scene tape. (Submitted photo)
In order to convict the defendants on the national defense charge, which is the most serious charge, the government has to show not only that the trio interfered with the national defense, but that they intended to. After the government rested yesterday, defense attorneys moved to have the three acquitted on the national defense charge, arguing that the government had insufficient evidence to convict. That charge by itself carries a prison sentence of up to 20 years.
U.S. District Court Judge Amul Thapar is reportedly still considering the motion to acquit. In the meantime, closing arguments will be this afternoon before the case goes to the jury.
Jury selection in the case was Monday. The government opened and closed its case Tuesday. Government witnesses included Steve Erhart, manager of the National Nuclear Security Administration Production Office; Y-12 security officer Sgt. Chad Riggs, the second officer to arrive at the HEUMF the night of the intrusion; fired guard Kirk Garland, the first to arrive; Rodney Johnson, B&W Y-12 deputy general manager for security operations and emergency services; and Special Agent Ryan Baker of the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Inspector General.
Besides the three defendants, retired Col. Anne Wright, who has served in the U.S. Army and Army Reserves and worked for the State Department, testified for the defense.
Joel Leopard says
Throw the book at them. They have NO right to break into a national security facility. You have every right to protest but not like this. I’m sure they’ll get a slap on the wrist.