Three activists opposed to nuclear weapons pose with banners before their arrests on Saturday at the Y-12 National Security Complex. From left to right, the three are Michael R. Walli, Megan Rice, and Greg Boertje-Obed. (Submitted photo)
Three anti-nuclear weapons activists facing federal trespassing charges after sneaking into a high-security area at the Y-12 National Security Complex on Saturday have waived a detention hearing, meaning they will remain jailed for now, a court representative said Monday.
The three Plowshares activists are Michael R. Walli, 63, of Washington, D.C.; Megan Rice, 82, of New York; and Greg Boertje-Obed, 57, of Duluth, Minn. They have been jailed at the Blount County Corrections Facility.
The federal trespassing charges reportedly carry potential sentences of up to one year in prison and one year of supervised release as well as a maximum $100,000 fine. Supporters and officials have said other charges are possible.
“The government wanted the defendants to remain in custody, and they agreed to do so,” said Mallory Maurer, courtroom deputy in U.S. District Court in the Eastern District of Tennessee in Knoxville.
Pushing for disarmament, the activists allegedly sneaked through four fences at the Y-12 National Security Complex before dawn Saturday and spray-painted messages and splashed human blood on the walls of a uranium storage building before they were detained by security guards.
Maurer said the defendants, who reportedly initiated the first security breach of the Protected Area on Y-12’s west end, have a preliminary hearing with Magistrate Bruce Guyton at 1:30 p.m. Thursday in U.S. District Court in Knoxville.
During an initial appearance on trespassing charges Monday, Wall and Rice were appointed attorneys, and Boertje-Obed said he wants to represent himself, Maurer said. Boertje-Obed was appointed “elbow counsel,” an attorney who will be present at hearings and can answer questions.
The protesters said nuclear weapons work at Y-12, which was built during the Manhattan Project in World War II, violates international law.
“We come to the Y-12 facility because our very humanity rejects the designs of nuclearism, empire, and war,†read a statement reported to be from the activists and forwarded by supporters. “Our faith in love and nonviolence encourages us to believe that our activity here is necessary; that we come to invite transformation, undo the past and present work of Y-12; disarm and end any further efforts to increase the Y-12 capacity for an economy and social structure based upon war-making and empire-building.”
Federal spokesman Steven Wyatt has said Saturday’s security breach is being investigated by the U.S. Department of Energy Inspector General.
Courtney Henry, spokeswoman for security contractor WSI Oak Ridge, declined comment Monday, referring questions to Wyatt.
In a telephone interview Monday evening, Wyatt declined to answer most new questions about the incident and said he couldn’t answer others. He said federal officials have released as much information as they can for now.
“We’re in the review and investigation process,” Wyatt said.
The investigation will look at all aspects of what took place Saturday, he said. Wyatt said he didn’t want to speculate on how long the investigation would take.
He said the activists were detected Saturday when they entered the 150-acre perimeter intrusion detection assessment system, or PIDAS, that surrounds the nuclear operations area at Y-12. That system warned of the intrusion, and the plant’s protective force responded, Wyatt said.
kay williamson says
I can NOT believe people in this CITY IS NOT OUTRAGE OVER THIS HIGH SECURITY BREACH, THREE PEOPLE GOT INTO THE SITE: you are suppose to be watching out for us and yet they managed to get through 3 fences, paint on the building, and throw BLOOD, we are luck they were PROTESTER’S AND NOT TERRORIST!!! JUST HOW SECURE ARE WE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1 GOOD JOB WITH THE MILLIONS SPENT ON OUR SECURITY,,,,,,,,,, AND where were their cars parked,,,,,,,,,,,, Why would anyone be out there at that time of the morning other than in danger the lives of other… people should be fired,,,,, others need to be replaced……
Susan Gawarecki says
I agree with Kay. That three average people–not even highly trained agents–could penetrate the PIDAS fence and reach the HEU storage facility is mind-boggling. Every time I’ve visited Y-12 behind the fence, they’ve bragged on their security and strutted around their anti-aircraft gun. Heads should be rolling.
Floyd Glenn says
Really! Are these security management personnel not the same people you adamantly defended, as they attacked Whistle Blowers, whose employment was terminated for reporting these exact security concerns?
Susan Gawarecki says
Floyd, I think you may have me confused with someone else. I’ve always respected the rights of whistle blowers to speak out without fear of reprisal.
Nurse26 says
Just FYI for all the concerned citizens. These dumba**es were I’m sure being watched from the moment they came within 50 feet of any plant property. The security is not only HIGHLY trained in security and defense but they are also NOT stupid. If they had haulted them at the front line then misdemeanor trespassing. Allowing them to deface any government property was the best thing for these people to do and therefore teaching them a lesson in not to mess with government property. These are not your typical Wal-Mart security guys, driving around in their beat up pick up truck with their little flashing light. Extensive military backgrounds, training, security clearance, and high velocity weapons are exactly what these men and women have that protect and secure our government facilities. Now I’m sure that if these protesters had shown up with a tank or an air plane, then perhaps all hell would have broken lose. But since they were unarmed and have a track record of the same shenanigans else where then there is no concern. Please do not question the integrity of these guards. I believe they do their job and they do it well.
Floyd Glenn says
You don’t have a clue what your talking about. These intruders walked for hours before reaching their target. They walked through an area of the plant that allowed them cover from detection right up to the the fence within yards of the HEU storage facility. The Security Police Officers are highly trained and are very well equipped. They were not observed by cameras or other means. DOE spokesmen have said the PIDAS worked. If the PIDAS worked the intruders would have been detected and a breach would have been prevented within minutes. How long do you think it took the elderly intruders to cut more than one fence and walk to the bldg. You actually believe that security knew who these people were, that they were not armed, and that they allowed them entry so they could prosecute them for greater crimes? When was the PIDAS last tested in the sector that the breach occurred? Were the cameras working? This is about management that have a history of wide spread non compliance with safety and security. Where were the manned Guard Towers that over looked this area and would have prevented this. Millions can be spent on policies and procedures but if they are not adhered to this is the result. I reported these security vulnerabilities in 1997, 1998 all the up to the Sec of Energy. I reported these vulnerabilities to a DOE security audit team because the Y-12 management would not correct these vulnerabilities. This was handled by giving my concerns to my management that intimidated and threatened me for weeks for going outside the chain of command. The main person involved in this is now suspended from his duties for this recent breach. I will say again, the focus is on the wrong people. The focus should be on the people who did not take preventative action to keep this from happening. A well trained team of young, healthy, highly armed individuals would have wreaked havoc. You think your safe? Ask Steve Wyatt about the employee that set off a radiation detector at a guard post. The employee was initially released because he stated the metal bowl looking object he had was depleted uranium and he was taking it home to use as an ash tray. He was stopped by an officer on the SRT team. Later the “depleted uranium” was escorted by an SRT officer and two SRT members into a Material Access Area where bomb grade parts are stored. Any other questions?
Floyd Glenn says
By the way the employee exiting with the part did not have security clearance for the area it came from. Gee, wonder how he got it. His wife was a Lt. in protective services. They had computers that had been stolen, some with classified information. No criminal charges were filed against them.
Floyd Glenn says
No comment Susan.