For immediate release:
Sr. Carol Gilbert to be released from
Alderson Federal Prison, Monday May 23, 2005
Contact: Jonah House at 410-233-6238 or 443-804-6938.
Sr. Carol Gilbert, one of 3 Dominican Sisters convicted of sabotage and destruction of government property in their plowshares witness Oct. 6, 2002 at the N-8 Minuteman III silo in Colorado , will complete her prison sentence of 33 months at 8:00 a.m. on May 23, 2005 . The three nuns acted at the precise moment when the US was looking for weapons of mass destruction in Iraq . They revealed the presence of weapons of mass destruction on high alert right here in this country. They entered the silo in white mop-up suits, naming themselves “Citizens' Weapons Inspection Team” and “Disarmament Specialists.”
Members of her community will receive Carol and drive her back to Baltimore .
On Monday evening – that same day - we will celebrate her witness with a “Welcome Home Party!” at the Parish Hall behind St. Peter Claver Church - 1546 N. Fremont Ave. , Baltimore MD 21217 .
At 6:00 p.m. there will be a community “pot luck” meal at St. Peter Claver Parish Hall.
At 7:30 p.m. there will be a Program of Music, Testimonials and Celebration.
The program –highlights the following:
Former Attorney General and good friend, Ramsey Clark ,
Reverend John Dear , S.J.,
Bishop Tom Gumbleton
Pat Humphries and Sandy O with their music
Senator Barbara Mikulski (or, if need be, a representative from her office)
Amy Goodman of Democracy Now
Sr. Brigid Clingman, O.P, from the leadership team of the Grand Rapids Dominicans
Rev Daniel Berrigan , S.J. reading poetry
Chris Goodman , a local African American poet active with The Algebra Project
Others are not confirmed…
Friends have shared these words about the occasion:
Sister Carol , along with Sister Ardeth and Sister Jackie , are heroes of peace in these difficult days of war. Not only do they denounce the immorality, illegality, and stupidity of war, but they risk their lives, like Gandhi and Dr. King, hammering on nuclear weapons, ‘beating swords into plowshares,' and actually beginning the process of disarmament. We celebrate their lives, their resistance, their witness, their call to peace, and take courage from them to speak out against the immoral, senseless war on Iraq and our massive arsenal of weapons of mass destruction. Like Sr. Carol , we too call for a new world without war, poverty and nuclear weapons. -- John Dear , S.J. , author of "The Questions of Jesus," and "Living Peace," from Santa Fe , New Mexico .
I'm very proud to be here today to support Carol Gilbert on her release from jail. She's an outstanding example of what we all should be doing in order to stop the development and plans to use weapons of mass destruction by our government. She's a symbol of great hope that we might eventually become wise enough to end war and insure a safe planet for all peoples. Peace , Bishop Tom Gumbleton , Detroit MI .
The gathering is a way not only to welcome and celebrate her, but also as a public witness that “ Carol belongs at home!”
As part of her sentence, Carol still has to serve 3 years of supervised release . Carol was told that the Federal Probation Office in Baltimore was adamant that she not return to Jonah House, the community where she lives - missioned by her Dominican Order. A “release plan” was developed requiring that Carol report to a homeless shelter in Denver , Colorado to serve her sentence of 3 years supervised release.
Carol made it clear that she would not go to Colorado but return to her community in Baltimore . After intense communications, on May 6, Carol was informed by her case manager that the Baltimore federal probation officer would “accept” Carol and that she is to report to their office within 72 hours of her release. This intelligence came in a fax from David Wonneman , supervisor of the Baltimore federal probation office. The letter stated that the probation office knew she would return there anyway. It is not known if this assignment is temporary or permanent or whether it will include restrictions that violate Carol 's conscience.
Please understand that in coming home Carol walks a tightrope under threat of being “violated!” This means that, at any time, for any real or imagined infringement, she is likely to be arrested, transported to Colorado , and sentenced again before Judge Blackburn for probation violation. It could be for up to the full 3 year term.
The action of the three nuns has spoken powerfully and broadly: people in many parts of the world report that this action brought them hope. At home, the need to turn swords into plowshares is greater than ever. We continue to spend $32,000 per second on warmaking while people starve, live in the streets, are unable to pay for job training or medical care.
For further information, `contact Jonah House at 410-233-6238 or 443-804-6938.