Prince of Peace Plowshares, Bath Ironworks, Maine, Ash Wednesday 1997

Prince of Peace Plowshares: THE SAGA by Philip Berrigan

In the pre-dawn hours on Ash Wednesday, February 12, 1997, Susan Crane and Steve Kelly, S.J, of the Jubilee Plowshares West ; Steve Baggarly, husband and father from the Norfolk Catholic Worker; Mark Colville, father of three from the New Haven Catholic Worker; Tom Lewis-Borbely of the Transfiguration Plowshares East; and Phil Berrigan, member of several plowshares actions, boarded the USS Sullivans, a nuclear-capable Aegis destroyer at Bath Iron Works in Maine. They hammered and poured blood on different parts of the battleship, including the Pilot House, the Bridge, the Helicopter pad, and several missile hatch covers. As they read their action statement and unfurled a banner, armed military security forcibly pushed them to the deck and placed them under arrest.

During their jury trial in US District court in Portland, ME, they were not allowed to present expert witnesses, except for Daniel Berrigan, S.J. whose testimony was restricted. When they were prevented by the Judge from speaking to the jury about the moral and legal intent of their action, they withdrew from the trial and offered a Scripture reading and prayer. Most supporters were removed from the courtroom for singing and speaking out. On May 7 they were convicted of destruction of government property and conspiracy. They were each sentenced separately—three on Oct. 27 and three on Oct. 29. They were sentenced to the following prison terms: Susan, 27 months; Phil, 24 months; Steve Kelly, 21 months; Mark, 13 months; Steve Baggarly, 11 months; and Tom, 6 months. Each was given two years supervised probation and ordered to pay $4,703.89 in restitution. They were given credit for the time they had already served. Sentences were based on their past records as well as their cooperation during the trial. On both sentencing days people were arrested for nonviolent actions at BIW.

Upon release from prison, Tom was ordered to pay restitution, which he refused to do. He was eventually given another four months in jail. Facing more substantial time in prison for failure to comply with restitution, an anonymous supporter paid Steve Baggarly's restitution following his release from prison. Susan was ordered not to return to Jonah House upon her release because it is a place of “ongoing criminal activity.” After a period of time, she returned with the court's consent to Jonah House. She refused to pay restitution—the court has still to respond to this. Upon his release, Phil was ordered by the court not to associate with other convicted felons, except for his wife. He also refused to pay restitution and the court has yet to take action. Mark refused to pay any restitution and the court informed him in July 2000 that it would serve no purpose to incarcerate him because his views still would not be changed. Steve Kelly refused payment of restitution and the court has yet to take action. (From Plowshares Action Site )

Picture of Plowshares in the local jail

Pictures and a description of the action