Space Week Event at BIW

Yesterday about 35 of us gathered in Bath, Maine for our Keep Space for Peace Week event in solidarity with others around the world.

At Bath Iron Works (BIW) the Navy Aegis destroyer is built that is outfitted with so-called 'missile defense' systems which are key elements in Pentagon first-strike attack planning.  The interceptor missiles on-board these ships are the 'shield' that would be used to knock out Russian or Chinese retaliatory strikes after a US first-strike.

In 2008 the Navy used an Aegis destroyer's interceptor missile to knock a failed US satellite out of the sky demonstrating that these systems could also serve a role as an anti-satellite (ASAT) weapon.

We gathered in front of the BIW administration building and then walked down the street to a gate where workers filed out at noon from their weekend shift at the shipyard.

Once we were finished with the protest we all gathered at a local church for a pot luck lunch and rehearsal for the coming trial of the Zumwalt 12 who were arrested on June 18 for blocking the entrance to the 'christening' of the second Navy Zumwalt stealth destroyer.  Each of us made a statement of why we were arrested that day and the audience performed the role of the jury giving us feedback on our statements.

At the top of this post you can see the statement of Connie Jenkins. (Thanks to Lisa Savage for making the video.  See Lisa's full report on the event here.)

Bruce