Danielle Brian
By Danielle Brian, executive director of Project on Government Oversight
If justice is served Tuesday, a federal judge will exercise leniency when he sentences Sister Megan Rice, Greg Boertje-Obed, and Michael Walli for their non-violent protest at the Y-12 nuclear facility in Oak Ridge in July 2012.
The three peace activists did much more to raise awareness about the security gaps at Y-12 than any harm committed when they breached the compound’s outer fence.
Important lessons were learned about the nuclear weapons complex’s security failings and, more importantly, the failings were discovered through non-violent methods.
We hope the court will take into account that the only real impact their protest had was to expose the extremely flawed and dangerous security at Y-12.
For background on the case, go to http://www.pogo.org/blog/2013/05/20130509-y-12-protestors-exposed-security-failures-found-guilty-1.html.
Founded in 1981, POGO is a nonpartisan independent watchdog that champions good government reforms. POGO’s investigations into corruption, misconduct, and conflicts of interest achieve a more effective, accountable, open, and ethical federal government.
Jason Allison says
That’s just plain absurd. Should a murderer get leniency for killing a 80 year old person because “they’re going to die soon”?
Randy Miller says
These 3 actually did the Feds a favor. They showed them they need a new security firm .We are too lax here snug in our homes watching all the violence on the tube happening everywhere except here. We have a problem with insane people and guns. Could you imagine if those 3 were Al-Qaeda terrorist? East TN would glow in the dark for the next 15Kyrs. If the judge don’t give them time served for what they did someone got to him. He’s supposed to take mitigating circumstances in his decision on this case that’s full of reasons to throw it all out after the way the prosecutor acted like a typical DA. Smug, egomaniac, and an idiot to boot.. They had no malice in their actions. Just embarrassed the wrong agency. I can tell you from experience. Don’t piss-off BIG BROTHER.
MyraJo says
They knew the potential consequences of being caught.
MyraJo says
They invaded and damaged Federal property with full knowledge of the potential consequences for such actions. They have accepted it as should all.