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worldwideWAMM November 2003
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Alliant 28 Found Not Guilty
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Jane Evershed, W A M M
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In October, the Alliant 28 were found not guilty by a Hennepin County jury. The defendants trespassed at Alliant Techsystems headquarters in Edina, Minnesota, to protest the use of radioactive waste (or so-called “depleted” uranium) used in missile tips. They entered the property on April 2, 2003, to deliver a letter to CEO Paul David Miller. The letter requested that Alliant take responsibility for damages caused by depleted uranium (DU) and run the necessary tests to prove that DU is harmless, as Alliant claims.
The Alliant 28 represented themselves without an attorney and introduced international law by way of the Geneva Convention and the Nuremberg Tribunals to override the state trespassing laws. They stated that the use of DU weapons manufactured by Alliant Techsystems is a crime against humanity because the radioactive waste does not discriminate among combatants and civilians and continues to cause harm long after the dust of war has settled. They argued “claim of right” and stated that they were authorized by the U.S. Constitution under Article 6.
The defendants expressed grave concern about the health of U.S. soldiers who have been victimized with weapons deployed by their own country. Wendi Nauheimer testified about the death of her brother, S. Sgt. Patrick Nauheimer, who the family believes contracted leukemia as a result of his exposure to radioactive waste left by the first Gulf War. He participated in the clean-up phase of the war in 1992.
Four of the defendants had traveled to Iraq and testified about their encounter with the tremendous number of cases of leukemia and birth defects found in Iraq, where DU was used by the U.S. troops in 1991. The defendants testified that these DU weapons were manufactured by Alliant Techsystems. Many of the defendants spoke of their deep concern for Iraqi children with birth defects, the health of U.S. soldiers, and the devastating effect of DU on the environment.
In the Hennepin County courtroom, there was a mixture of tears and joy after the verdict was read. Defendants shattered the usual solemn ether of the court by applauding the jury as they left. Nauheimer and her mother, Carol, expressed that they felt some justice had been served on behalf of Patrick. “This is the first time we have ever had a voice to say anything publicly about what happened to Patrick.” |
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W A M M Action
Contact your representatives and senators. Ask them to ban the military use of depleted uranium and to co-sponsor Representative Jim McDermott bill H.R. 1483.
Congressional Switchboard:
1-800-839-5276 or 202-224-3121
DU Resources
Campaign Against Depleted Uranium (CADU)
Bridge 5 Mill
22a Beswick Street
Ancoats
Manchester UK
M4 7HR
+44 (0)161 273 8283 (phone)
+44 (0)161 273 8293 (fax)
www.cadu.org.uk
info@cadu.org.uk
Military Toxics Project
P.O. Box 558
Lewiston, ME 04243-0558
207-783-5091 (phone)
207-783-5096 (fax)
www.miltoxproj.org
mtp@miltoxproj.org
National Gulf War Resource Center
8605 Cameron Street, Suite 400
Silver Spring, MD 20910
800-882-1316 x 162 (phone)
www.ngwrc.org
hq@ngwrc.org
AlliantAction
www.circlevision.org/alliantaction
alliantaction@circlevision.org
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© 2003 Women Against Military Madness. All rights reserved.
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Complete November 2003 Index - click here
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