Vigil For Pruning Hook Activist Planned

by Lisa Wozniak

On November 12, 1984, four activists, including Illinois Priest Father Carl Kabot, cut a padlock on a fence surrounding one of 150 missile silos in Missouri, walked onto the site, and began to jackhammer a Minuteman II silo. For this symbolic act of resistance to the U.S. military build-up, Carl Kabot was sentences to 18 years, 6 months in prison; peace activist and mother of eleven children, Helen Dery Woodson received 18 years 6 months; Carl's brother, Father Paul Kabot received 10 years, 5 months; and Indian-rights activist, Larry Cloud-Morgan received 8 years, 4 four months. All four peace activists, who call themselves the "Silo Pruning Hooks," were sent to separate prisons. Carl Kabot was sent to Milan Prison just outside of Ann Arbor. It was the first time that civilians had been successfully charged with sabotage since the statute was passed in 1948.

On Nov. 11, a candlelight "Peace Veterans Vigil" will be held outside of Milan prison to express outrage at Fr. Kabot's imprisonment, to express solidarity with a man who has shown incredible personal commitment in speaking out against the arms race, and to commemorate the anniversary of the action.

(see CALENDAR)