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NEWS RELEASE
16 April 2008
Contact Trinity Nuclear Abolitionists: 505 242 0497



POLITICAL PRISONERS RELEASED ON BAIL


Two members of Trinity Nuclear Abolitionists (TNA) were released on bond this morning from the Los Alamos County Jail. They had been arrested on Monday night at 9:35 PM at the behest of four men from various backgrounds after three hours of the post-sunset vigil for peace on alleged D.o.E. lands. The men who politely insisted that TNA prayer-activists leave the area supposedly represented the County Fire Department, the private company LACDC, and LANL. Charged with "criminal trespass (30-14-01.1(a))" the two prisoners, Michael Butler & Marcus Page, pleaded "not guilty" and expect to go to trial in June or July. The charge can result in a maximum of 364 days in jail or prison.

"Negotiations went very well with Mr. Killeen, Mr. Holsapple, the fire Battalion Chief Pacheco, and "Mick" of LANL. We ended the important conversation in a clear disagreement over their claims to authority," said Page. "They didn't accept our invitation to pray with us, and they didn't make any gestures to stop the international crimes across the street, but instead called the police over to interrupt our prayer-action. We continued the vigil throughout the night in a jail cell." 36 hours after the interruption of prayer at the fire hydrant, TNA members Page & Butler were released with the help of donations for bail bond.

This was the 9th monthly vigil for peace conducted by TNA, and the longest one so far, despite the forced relocation to a jail cell. Other TNA volunteers continued the vigil as "allowed" by LANL security during the next morning. TNA consistently calls for an end to all nuclear weapons research, development, testing, refurbishing, and production. Aware of the tax money allocated for nuclearism TNA is part of the worldwide nuclear abolition movement working for social justice and spiritual integrity.

The prayer vigil was scheduled for Tax Day 2008 (April 15th). TNA had two purposes for being at LANL:
* To prayerfully encourage the nonviolent, safe, clean disarmament of weapons of mass destruction, along with the clean-up of LANL, under the guidance of LANS.
* To visibly celebrate the war-tax boycott organized by the National War Tax Resistance Coordinating Committee.


HAGGARD AFTER HITCH-HIKING HOME, MARCUS & MIKE HOLD ONE OF THE SIGNS USED BY THE SIX VIGILLERS OF APRIL 14-15.