Peace and Global Solidarity |
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by Alice Baker, IHM On Sunday morning, April 13, 2008, I found myself for the third time in the last four years at the Oak Ridge Environmental Peace Alliance's annual rally, march and demonstration against nuclear weapons production at the Y-12 National Security Complex in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. However, this day was different, because I was ready to take another step and face possible arrest. For several months, I had prayed and discerned with several friends and IHM community members who had experienced jail time in the past as part of a direct action. As this day approached, I felt more calm and willing to do this action for peace, thanks to their wonderful, strong support. I learned that jail time (whether it's 24 hours, as it was for me, or many more hours) can be risky. All the preparation in the world didn't negate some of the fears and anxieties that I had before the actual arrest. But I was able to dispel them when so many people came to me on that day and said, "Thank you for your witness." I did not feel alone or abandoned. At the temporary gate, the marchers took the artificial bomb apart and untied the "prisoners" attached to it. Dancing and singing commenced until the police told everyone to leave the road. Beth Rosdatter, a 47-year-old college instructor from Lexington, Kentucky, and I symbolically offered a loaf of "bread instead of bombs, food for the world to the 7th generation" and broke the bread for all to share. The police refused our pieces of bread. Then, Beth and I stood calmly together on the road as the police handcuffed us and took us to the Oak Ridge courthouse. Beth paid her bond. I refused and was taken to the Anderson County Jail for booking. On Sunday evening and Monday, I was held in the overcrowded central unit with 56 other women inmates. I will never forget their amazing kindnesses, questions and comments. Most knew about the Y-12 protests from past years and the many arrests that had preceded mine. Each woman had her own story to tell, whether it be about taking/giving drugs, giving/receiving abuse, or DUIs. The guards controlled our movements with frequent lockdowns which meant that we were to remain on our cots or mattresses, sometimes in silence. I was on a mattress due to overcrowded conditions. In spite of this inconvenience, I was able to converse from time to time with the women. This individual sharing culminated at the end of my stay in jail with some of us exchanging addresses, praying together and giving each other hugs. On Monday morning I was arraigned at the jail by the judge and given a court date for the following Tuesday, April 22. I was let out of jail at 2:00 p.m. and Ralph Hutchison (Director of OREPA) and Judy Burkhardt (my support person from Detroit) picked me up. Since we did not want to travel back from Michigan the following week, we visited the Public Defender's office to see if we could get an earlier court date. The Public Defender told me to come on Tuesday, Apr. 15, and she would ask the judge. I spent the next day at the courthouse waiting for my hearing along with the OREPA team members. Some of the women prisoners I had met were in the court room that day but we could not have any contact with them. We did exchange smiles and nods of recognition. At 4:15 p.m. the judge accepted my plea Recently, I heard about OREPA's huge blue banner that was placed in front of Y-12 after my arrest. I had to see it for myself. It said: "Complex Transformation in Progress" with radiation symbols at the bottom changing to the peace symbol. What an appropriate image to remain with me after my first time in jail! ALLELUIA! What have I learned from this experience?
If you would like to contact Alice Baker to invite her to tell her story, you can contact her at albakerihm@aol.com. |
of "Best Interest" (like a guilty plea) and stated my fine and court costs, totaling $300.00. I had 30 days to pay. Thanking the Public Defender for her kindness and all of the OREPA team for their loyal presence, Judy and I made our plans to drive back to Michigan on Wednesday, April 16. 