At the age of 82 Sister Megan Rice, a Catholic nun, along with two other Christian peace activists, caused “The biggest security breach in the history of the [USA’s] atomic complex” and shut down a nuclear weapons plant for two weeks.
Megan, Michael and Greg had cut through chain link fences and eluded security to reach the building in the Y12 Nucelar weapons complex where nuclear weapons grade Uranium is stored. There they had symbolically hammered on the wall of the building, poured blood and grafittied “Woe to Empire” and “Transform Now Ploughshares”. Their action exposed the massive insecurity of the nuclear weapons complex and was highly embarassing to the US government. The three were found guilty of sabotage but the verdict was later overturned on appeal and Megan and the others were dramatically released from prison after more than two years.
Sister Megan, Greg Boertje-Obed and Michael Walli called their action the “Transform Now Ploughshares” action. It was one in what is now a long and noble line of such actions of direct and symbolic disarmament of nuclear weapons that began with the action of the Ploughshares Eight. For these three Catholics it was an act of prayer and a dramatic witness inspired by the famous words of the Prophet Isaiah “They shall beat their swords into ploughshares and their swords into pruning hooks and study war no more.”
We have been following their remarkable story in Peace and Justice News since we first heard of their powerful witness three years ago. Now we will have the opportunity to hear Megan tell her story at our brand new location in the heart of Edinburgh just off the Royal Mile.
Come hear Megan tell her remarkable story at the new Edinburgh Peace and Justice Centre, 5 Upper Bow, Edinburgh EH1 2JN.
Organised by Edinburgh Peace & Justice Centre
Supported by Edinburgh CND
