Thirteen people were cited at the Trident nuclear submarine base at Bangor Aug. 8, marking the 77th anniversary of the Hiroshima and Nagasaki atomic bombings
Approximately 40 people were present at a flash mob demonstration against the nuclear weapons. The protest blocked traffic entering the main gate at the Trident base during rush-hour traffic.
Naval Base Kitsap-Bangor is homeport to the largest concentration of deployed nuclear warheads in the U.S. The nuclear warheads are deployed on Trident D-5 missiles on SSBN submarines and are stored in an underground nuclear weapons storage facility on the base.
Activists gathered early that morning at the the Ground Zero Center for Nonviolent Action in Poulsbo to call for the abolition of nuclear weapons. Rev. Crystal Zerfoss of the Kitsap Unitarian Universalist Fellowship led the group in a blessing before they walked to the base carrying banners, signs and flags.
At the gate, while people held a peaceful vigil on the roadside, approximately two dozen activists entered the roadway and performed in a flash mob dance to “War (What is it good for?).”
When the dance was completed, some people remained on the roadway holding two large banners that read “Abolish Nuclear Weapons” and “Nuclear Weapons Are Illegal: Get them out of Kitsap County.”
Those cited included locals Sue Ablao and Philip Davis, both of Bremerton; Gilberto Perez of Bainbridge Island; and Macknight Johnson of Silverdale.
Mary and Jim Aldridge joined the remembrance, representing their father, Robert C. Aldridge, peacemaker and guiding inspiration for Ground Zero Center and Trident resistance who died April 29.
Also, the annual Pacific Northwest Interfaith Peace Walk ended at the Ground Zero Center to participate in the remembrance and Monday’s vigil and direct action. The walk is coordinated by Rev. Senji Kanaeda of the Nipponzan Myohoji Buddhist Temple on Bainbridge Island.
The Ground Zero Center for Nonviolent Action was founded in 1977. The center is on 3.8 acres adjoining the Trident base at Bangor.
