DOVES OF PEACE
DISARMAMENT ACTION: On April 3, 1990 Susan
Rodriguez, a longtime peace and community activist from Hayward, CA, entered
the Physics International Laboratory on San Leandro, CA, a company which uses
computers to simulate nuclear weapons explosions and research their effects on
military hardware. She proceeded through several computer labs, and used a
small sledgehammer to disarm several computers. When finally confronted by the
police, she stopped and was arrested. Susan had learned of PI’s relationship to
the military industry in the course of her work for a computer repair company.
On December 14, 1990 she was tried and convicted by a jury of two felony
counts: burglary and malicious mischief (causing more than $25,000 worth of
damage). On March 20, 1991 Susan was sentenced to one year in jail, suspended,
750 hours community service, three years probation and $1,000
restitution.