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Activists arrested at nuclear weapons plant groundbreaking
Holding large signs and chanting refrains of "Build for peace, not for war," eight peace activists were arrested in Kansas City, MO, on Sept. 8 for blocking access to the official groundbreaking ceremony for a major new nuclear weapons production facility.
The acts of civil disobedience came six days after Bishop Robert W. Finn of the Kansas City-Saint Joseph diocese released a statement asking officials to reconsider the construction of the new plant and three weeks after 14 activists were arrested at the same site for a separate nonviolent peace action.
The new plant, which will make nonnuclear parts for nuclear weapons, is set to be the nation's first new major nuclear weapons production facility in 32 years.
Stepping in front of buses carrying local, state and federal officials, activists halted the flow of people into the official ceremony for a few minutes as police gathered to arrest those who would not get out of the way and let the buses continue to move.
Reading from Finn's statement to the 70 activists gathered at the site, Jude Huntz, director of the diocese's human rights office, said the continued creation of nuclear weapons poses a "grave moral danger."