JUBILEE PLOWSHARES - On August 7, 1995 six religious peace activists carried out coordinated plowshares actions to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the U.S. atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The following is an excerpt of their statement: "The period of August 6 through 9 marks the 50th anniversary of the nuclear destruction of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan...Since August 1945 the entire world, led by the U.S. has been held hostage by nuclearism and the exponential rise of military violence. This violence permeates every level of society... Disarmament is the necessary first step to Christ's Jubilee. We refuse to see violence as inevitable, injustice as the order of the day, and death dealing as the only way of life. Join us in this declaration for disarmament to announce the jubilee for the poor, relief for the children, and peace for us all." 

JUBILEE PLOWSHARES EAST - Before dawn, Michele Naar-Obed of the Good News Plowshares, Philadelphia activists Rick sieber (of the Paupers Plowshares) and Erin Sieber (father and son), and Amy Moose, a social worker and peace activist from New York City, entered Newport News Shipbuilding. They cut through a fence and walked to the USS Greenville fast attack submarine. They boarded the submarine and proceeded to hammer and pour blood on the soft metal casing inside four vertical launch tubes for the Tomahawk cruise missile. They also pasted pictures of the Hiroshima victims to the submarine and laid out their statement and indictment. After a period of prayer they then spoke with a shipyard worker about their action, who in turn called security. The four were arrested and jailed at Newport News City jail and held on $6,500 bond. (Rick was released on bond several weeks later). The four were charged by the State of Virginia with trespass and destruction of property -- a felony. On September 19th the four were tried on the trespass charge. Despite attempts by the court to suppress the truth, especially during cross-examination of Newport News personnel, the four were able to offer powerful testimony about their witness. They were convicted and immediately given the maximum sentence for this charge: 1 year in jail and a $2500 fine. 
The four decided to appeal and be tried again on the trespass charge during their jury trial on the property destruction charge. Erin, Michele and Amy were released on bond several weeks later. Following their release Amy accepted a plea-bargain agreement due to personal reasons. Shortly before their expected jury trial in December, they were notified that state charges were being dropped and that they would be indicted on federal charges. On January 19th Erin, Rick and Michele pled not guilty to the following charges: damage to national defense material, conspiracy to damage national defense material, destruction of government property (submarine and shipyard fence), and conspiracy to commit destruction of government property. These charges carry a maximum sentence of 45 years in prison and a $12 million fine. They will be tried by a jury on March 19, 1996. 

In April 1996 the group returned to court for a motions hearing. During this hearing international law expert, Matthew Lippman, testified about why nuclear weapons are in violation of International law and about the legal justification for nonviolent protest. His testimony was deemed inadmissible by Judge Rebecca Smith. Also numerous motions argued by Attorney Sebastian Graber to drop the sabotage charge were not granted. In light of the repressive nature of the court and the near certainty of a minimum 10-year and a maximum 45-year prison sentence, the three decided to accept a plea agreement. Erin was sentenced to eight months (4 months in prison and four months house arrest on an electronic monitor) Rick was sentenced to 9 months imprisonment. And Michele was sentenced to 18 months imprisonment. They were each ordered to pay $6,000 in restitution. And they were all given three years of supervised probation.

Prior to her release, an anonymous donor paid Michele’s restitution. Upon her release from prison, Michele was ordered by the Federal Probation Office in Baltimore not to return to Jonah House, her home community. Violating this order would mean Michele’s having to spend substantially more time in prison. Based on past encounters with Jonah House, the FPO deemed that Jonah House was an unfit site for her rehabilitation. As a result of this denial of her right to return home, Michele, her husband and her daughter relocated to Norfolk, VA and then to the Catholic Worker in Duluth, MN. In the spring of 1999, Michele and her family returned to Jonah House whereupon she was cited with a probation violation. Judge Smith gave her a one-year prison sentence. She was released on June 21, 2000, finally free of probation and other restrictions that led to her exile.

JUBILEE PLOWSHARES WEST-  Shortly after 8:00 a.m. Ukiah school-teacher and peace activist Susan Crane, and Steve Kelly, a Jesuit priest from Oakland, walked onto Lockheed-Martin Corporation in Sunnyvale, CA, builder of the first strike Trident II D-5 missile. They approached a large assembly building, and to their amazement, a large rolling door opened up. They walked into the building and proceeded to hammer and pour blood on missile casings. On a nearby desk, Susan found classified plans for the missile and poured blood on them. While Susan and Steve awaited their arrest they spoke with some of the workers displayed photos of nuclear victims. They were both taken into custody by state authorities and then released after 48 hours. Federal authorities then ordered them back to court on August 11. They pled not guilty to felony charges of destruction of government property and conspiracy. Bond was set at $75,000 for Susan and $50,000 for Steve, which they refused. 
    On November 28 they were tried by a jury in San Jose Federal Court. During her testimony, Susan attempted to introduce the Nuremberg Principles into evidence. When she was stopped for the third time, supporters in the courtroom successively stood up and read from the Principles and read from the Bible. Federal marshals proceeded to remove 8 supporters from the building. Susan was also removed from the courtroom. When Steve refused to proceed with the trial the jury was removed. Eventually resuming her testimony, Susan challenged the judge, “I do not accept your authority...I do not know why I am not allowed to speak the highest law of the land.” Steve also offered compelling testimony and both offered character witnesses. During cross-examination both refused to answer questions about who drove them to the site. Each received civil contempt charges. They were both found guilty and faced a maximum sentence of 15 years imprisonment. During their sentencing they explained to the court they would not comply with any form of supervised release. On march 13, 1996, both were sentenced to 10 months in prison (with credit for time served) and 100 dollars in court costs. Following their release from prison they both went underground until their participation in the Prince Of Peace Plowshares Actions.