Philip Berrigan
Encyclopedia
Philip Francis Berrigan (October 5, 1923 – December 6, 2002) was an internationally renowned American
peace activist
, Christian anarchist
and former Roman Catholic priest. Along with his brother Daniel Berrigan
, he was for a time on the FBI Ten Most Wanted Fugitives
list for acts of vandalism
including destruction of government property.
, a Midwestern working class town, the younger brother of the Jesuit fellow-activist and poet
, Daniel Berrigan
. Their father, Tom Berrigan, was a second-generation Irish
-Catholic
and proud union
member.
In 1943, after a single semester of college, Berrigan was drafted into combat duty in World War II
. He served in the artillery
during the Battle of the Bulge
(1945) and later became a Second Lieutenant
in the infantry
. He was deeply affected by his exposure to the violence of war and the racism of boot camp
in the Deep South
.
Philip soon entered the seminary
of the Josephite Fathers
, a religious society of priests dedicated to serving those of African descent, who, in the United States, were still dealing with the repercussions of slavery
and daily segregation
. From this background, he became active in the Civil Rights movement
. Berrigan marched for desegregation
and participated in sit-in
s and bus boycott
s. He was ordained
a priest in 1955, but left the priesthood 18 years later. He would marry later in life to Elizabeth McAlister of Jonah House
in Baltimore, which they founded as a community to support resistance to war. Their three children, Frida
, Jerry, and Kate, all grew up to be anti-war activists.
, began taking more radical steps to bring attention to the anti-war
movement. On October 27, 1967, the "Baltimore Four" (Berrigan, artist Tom Lewis; and poet, teacher and writer David Eberhardt and United Church of Christ
missionary and pastor, the Reverend James L. Mengel) poured blood (blood from several of the four, but additionally blood purchased from the Gay St. Market- according to the FBI- poultry blood- perhaps chicken or duck used by the Polish for soup) on Selective Service records in the Baltimore Customs House. Mengel agreed to the action and donated blood, but decided not to actually pour blood; instead he distributed the paperback Good News for Modern Man (a version of the New Testament
) to draft board workers, newsmen, and police. As they waited for the police to arrive and arrest them, the group passed out Bibles and calmly explained to draft board employees the reasons for their actions. Berrigan stated in the written statement, "This sacrificial and constructive act is meant to protest the pitiful waste of American and Vietnamese
blood in Indochina
". He was sentenced to six years in prison.
physics
teacher
, Dean Pappas, helped to concoct homemade napalm
. Nine activists, who later became known as the Catonsville Nine
, walked into the draft board of Catonsville, Maryland
, removed draft records and burned 378 draft files in a lot outside of the building. The Catonsville Nine, who were all Catholic
s, issued a statement:
While he was staying at the rectory, located on the fourth floor of the Church of St. Gregory the Great, on the Upper West Side
in New York City
, the FBI broke down the church's door to arrest him. He was sentenced to three and a half years in prison.
trial in 1972, they could not win a conviction. This was one of the first reversals suffered by the U.S. government in such cases.
The DC Nine: nine men and women, seven were priests and Religious Sisters (this was a daytime protest against the Dow Chemical Company
and its production of napalm for use in the Vietnam
conflict). The DC Nine were later tried in Washington, D.C., but an appeal was won in their favor. Some jail time was served.
The Milwaukee 14 against the Milwaukee Draft Boards, September 24, 1968: fourteen men burned 10,000 1-A draft files. After being arrested, they spent a month in prison, unable to raise bail set at $415,000. Father James Groppi
came to their aid, co-chairing the Milwaukee 14 Defense Committee. Members were later placed on trial and many did considerable jail time.
The New York Action: included men who were Jesuit priests at the time. Against the New York City
Draft Boards.
The Chicago 15:
The Boston Eight: included other priests and Religious Sisters. These people stole files out of 4 Boston Draft Boards in order to prove that the State of Mass was drafting mostly Puerto Ricans
and poor whites to fill their quotas. No charges were ever brought, though the participants claimed responsibility the day after the action to the press in Boston, and again during the November Moratorium in Washington DC.
The East Coast Conspiracy to Save Lives: an action against the Philadelphia Draft Boards and General Electric
, which had contracts specifically to create incendiary weapons for use in Vietnam.
The Camden 28 Group: action against the Camden area FBI offices to expose the methods of J. Edgar Hoover
against war protesters. The group was arrested and the trial resulted in a hung jury
.
The Buffalo Five: an action coordinated with the Camden Action against Buffalo Draft Boards. Five of the group were put on trial and they were found guilty however Judge John Curtain handed out no jail sentences. His statement at sentencing indicated support for the action. A book has been written about this action by Ed Mcgowan and a documentary made by Giacchino, which appeared on PBS TV.
The Harrisburg Seven: the plan was to put people in the government like Henry Kissinger
under Citizens Arrest for the waging of an illegal war. Phillip Berrigan and others were arrested for conspiracy. They had only gotten together to discuss the idea.
This is but a cursory and abbreviated summary of the draft actions, including actions where responsibility was claimed, and actions which may not have numbered in the 200's.
In 1968, Berrigan signed the “Writers and Editors War Tax Protest” pledge, vowing to refuse tax payments in protest against the Vietnam War.
when they entered the General Electric
Nuclear Missile Re-entry Division in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania
where nose cones for the Mark 12A warheads were made. They hammered on two nose cones, poured blood on documents and offered prayers for peace. They were arrested and initially charged with over ten different felony and misdemeanor counts. On April 10, 1990, after nearly ten years of trials and appeals, the Plowshares Eight were re-sentenced and paroled for up to 23 and 1/2 months in consideration of time already served in prison. A documentary was made about this action called "In the King of Prussia" by Emile de Antonio
.
Since this action over seventy Plowshares actions have taken place around the world against weapons of war. Several of the initial ones involved Berrigan himself.
Berrigan's final Plowshares action was in December 1999, when he and others banged on A-10 Warthog
warplanes in an anti-war protest at the Warfield Air National Guard Base
. He was convicted of malicious destruction of property and sentenced to 30 months in prison. He was released December 14, 2001. In his lifetime he had spent about 11 years in jails and prisons for civil disobedience. http://www.commondreams.org/news2002/1206-01.htm
In one of his last public statements, Berrigan said,
at the age of 79 in Baltimore, Maryland. He was survived by his wife, Elizabeth McAlister, and their three children.
Howard Zinn
, Professor Emeritus at Boston University
, paid this tribute to Berrigan:
He was buried on the grounds of Jonah House. Berrigan's widow, Elizabeth McAlister, and others still maintain Jonah House in Baltimore and a website that details all Plowshares activities.
Murray Polner and Jim O'Grady, "Disarmed and Dangerous: The Radical Lives & Times of Daniel & Philip Berrigan (Basic Books, 1997; Westvew Press, 1998) He also contributed to Disciples and Dissidents, published in 2000 by Haley's. Fred Wilcox edited the book.
Jerry Elmer Felon for Peace
Art Laffin-Plowshares Actions, a Chronology
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
peace activist
Peace activist
This list of peace activists includes people who proactively advocate diplomatic, non-military resolution of political disputes, usually through nonviolent means.A peace activist is an activist of the peace movement.*Jane Addams*Martti Ahtisaari...
, Christian anarchist
Christian anarchism
Christian anarchism is a movement in political theology that combines anarchism and Christianity. It is the belief that there is only one source of authority to which Christians are ultimately answerable, the authority of God as embodied in the teachings of Jesus...
and former Roman Catholic priest. Along with his brother Daniel Berrigan
Daniel Berrigan
Daniel Berrigan, SJ is an American Catholic priest, peace activist, and poet. Daniel and his brother Philip were for a time on the FBI Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list for their involvement in antiwar protests during the Vietnam war....
, he was for a time on the FBI Ten Most Wanted Fugitives
FBI Ten Most Wanted Fugitives
The FBI Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list arose from a conversation held in late 1949 between J. Edgar Hoover, Director of the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation, and William Kinsey Hutchinson, International News Service Editor-in-Chief, who were discussing ways to promote capture of the...
list for acts of vandalism
Vandalism
Vandalism is the behaviour attributed originally to the Vandals, by the Romans, in respect of culture: ruthless destruction or spoiling of anything beautiful or venerable...
including destruction of government property.
Biography
Philip Francis Berrigan was born in Two Harbors, MinnesotaTwo Harbors, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 3,613 people, 1,636 households, and 953 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,120.7 people per square mile . There were 1,631 housing units at an average density of 505.9 per square mile...
, a Midwestern working class town, the younger brother of the Jesuit fellow-activist and poet
Poet
A poet is a person who writes poetry. A poet's work can be literal, meaning that his work is derived from a specific event, or metaphorical, meaning that his work can take on many meanings and forms. Poets have existed since antiquity, in nearly all languages, and have produced works that vary...
, Daniel Berrigan
Daniel Berrigan
Daniel Berrigan, SJ is an American Catholic priest, peace activist, and poet. Daniel and his brother Philip were for a time on the FBI Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list for their involvement in antiwar protests during the Vietnam war....
. Their father, Tom Berrigan, was a second-generation Irish
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
-Catholic
Catholic
The word catholic comes from the Greek phrase , meaning "on the whole," "according to the whole" or "in general", and is a combination of the Greek words meaning "about" and meaning "whole"...
and proud union
Trade union
A trade union, trades union or labor union is an organization of workers that have banded together to achieve common goals such as better working conditions. The trade union, through its leadership, bargains with the employer on behalf of union members and negotiates labour contracts with...
member.
In 1943, after a single semester of college, Berrigan was drafted into combat duty in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. He served in the artillery
Artillery
Originally applied to any group of infantry primarily armed with projectile weapons, artillery has over time become limited in meaning to refer only to those engines of war that operate by projection of munitions far beyond the range of effect of personal weapons...
during the Battle of the Bulge
Battle of the Bulge
The Battle of the Bulge was a major German offensive , launched toward the end of World War II through the densely forested Ardennes mountain region of Wallonia in Belgium, hence its French name , and France and...
(1945) and later became a Second Lieutenant
Second Lieutenant
Second lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer military rank in many armed forces.- United Kingdom and Commonwealth :The rank second lieutenant was introduced throughout the British Army in 1871 to replace the rank of ensign , although it had long been used in the Royal Artillery, Royal...
in the infantry
Infantry
Infantrymen are soldiers who are specifically trained for the role of fighting on foot to engage the enemy face to face and have historically borne the brunt of the casualties of combat in wars. As the oldest branch of combat arms, they are the backbone of armies...
. He was deeply affected by his exposure to the violence of war and the racism of boot camp
Recruit training
Recruit training, more commonly known as Basic Training and colloquially called Boot Camp, is the initial indoctrination and instruction given to new military personnel, enlisted and officer...
in the Deep South
Deep South
The Deep South is a descriptive category of the cultural and geographic subregions in the American South. Historically, it is differentiated from the "Upper South" as being the states which were most dependent on plantation type agriculture during the pre-Civil War period...
.
Philip soon entered the seminary
Seminary
A seminary, theological college, or divinity school is an institution of secondary or post-secondary education for educating students in theology, generally to prepare them for ordination as clergy or for other ministry...
of the Josephite Fathers
Josephite Fathers
The Josephite Fathers and Brothers or, more properly, Saint Joseph's Society of the Sacred Heart, Inc. are a society of Catholic priests and brothers, based in the United States. It was formed in 1871 by a group of priests from the English Foreign Mission Society of Saint Joseph, also known as...
, a religious society of priests dedicated to serving those of African descent, who, in the United States, were still dealing with the repercussions of slavery
Slavery
Slavery is a system under which people are treated as property to be bought and sold, and are forced to work. Slaves can be held against their will from the time of their capture, purchase or birth, and deprived of the right to leave, to refuse to work, or to demand compensation...
and daily segregation
Segregation
Segregation or segregate refers to setting apart or separating things or people and may refer to:* Particle segregation* Segregation in materials* Magnetic-activated cell sorting* Segregate * Mendel's law of segregation...
. From this background, he became active in the Civil Rights movement
African-American Civil Rights Movement (1955-1968)
The African-American Civil Rights Movement refers to the movements in the United States aimed at outlawing racial discrimination against African Americans and restoring voting rights to them. This article covers the phase of the movement between 1955 and 1968, particularly in the South...
. Berrigan marched for desegregation
Desegregation
Desegregation is the process of ending the separation of two groups usually referring to races. This is most commonly used in reference to the United States. Desegregation was long a focus of the American Civil Rights Movement, both before and after the United States Supreme Court's decision in...
and participated in sit-in
Sit-in
A sit-in or sit-down is a form of protest that involves occupying seats or sitting down on the floor of an establishment.-Process:In a sit-in, protesters remain until they are evicted, usually by force, or arrested, or until their requests have been met...
s and bus boycott
Montgomery Bus Boycott
The Montgomery Bus Boycott was a political and social protest campaign that started in 1955 in Montgomery, Alabama, USA, intended to oppose the city's policy of racial segregation on its public transit system. Many important figures in the civil rights movement were involved in the boycott,...
s. He was ordained
Ordination
In general religious use, ordination is the process by which individuals are consecrated, that is, set apart as clergy to perform various religious rites and ceremonies. The process and ceremonies of ordination itself varies by religion and denomination. One who is in preparation for, or who is...
a priest in 1955, but left the priesthood 18 years later. He would marry later in life to Elizabeth McAlister of Jonah House
Jonah House
Jonah House is a faith-based community centered around the concept of "Nonviolence, resistance and community". Founded in 1973 by a group that included Philip Berrigan, a Catholic priest, and Elizabeth McAlister, formerly a Catholic nun, Jonah House has grown to be situated on a area of land in...
in Baltimore, which they founded as a community to support resistance to war. Their three children, Frida
Frida Berrigan
Frida Berrigan is a peace activist and research associate at the World Policy Institute, specializing in arms trade.She is also a columnist for and Foreign Policy In Focus.She is the daughter of Philip Berrigan of the Catonsville Nine and Liz McAlister....
, Jerry, and Kate, all grew up to be anti-war activists.
The Baltimore Four
In the 1960s, after activity in civil rights, the then-Reverend Philip Berrigan, S.S.J.Josephite Fathers
The Josephite Fathers and Brothers or, more properly, Saint Joseph's Society of the Sacred Heart, Inc. are a society of Catholic priests and brothers, based in the United States. It was formed in 1871 by a group of priests from the English Foreign Mission Society of Saint Joseph, also known as...
, began taking more radical steps to bring attention to the anti-war
Anti-war
An anti-war movement is a social movement, usually in opposition to a particular nation's decision to start or carry on an armed conflict, unconditional of a maybe-existing just cause. The term can also refer to pacifism, which is the opposition to all use of military force during conflicts. Many...
movement. On October 27, 1967, the "Baltimore Four" (Berrigan, artist Tom Lewis; and poet, teacher and writer David Eberhardt and United Church of Christ
United Church of Christ
The United Church of Christ is a mainline Protestant Christian denomination primarily in the Reformed tradition but also historically influenced by Lutheranism. The Evangelical and Reformed Church and the Congregational Christian Churches united in 1957 to form the UCC...
missionary and pastor, the Reverend James L. Mengel) poured blood (blood from several of the four, but additionally blood purchased from the Gay St. Market- according to the FBI- poultry blood- perhaps chicken or duck used by the Polish for soup) on Selective Service records in the Baltimore Customs House. Mengel agreed to the action and donated blood, but decided not to actually pour blood; instead he distributed the paperback Good News for Modern Man (a version of the New Testament
New Testament
The New Testament is the second major division of the Christian biblical canon, the first such division being the much longer Old Testament....
) to draft board workers, newsmen, and police. As they waited for the police to arrive and arrest them, the group passed out Bibles and calmly explained to draft board employees the reasons for their actions. Berrigan stated in the written statement, "This sacrificial and constructive act is meant to protest the pitiful waste of American and Vietnamese
Vietnamese
Vietnamese may refer to:* Of, from, or related to Vietnam, the easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia.** Of, from, or related to the former country of North Vietnam** Of, from, or related to the former country of South Vietnam...
blood in Indochina
Indochina
The Indochinese peninsula, is a region in Southeast Asia. It lies roughly southwest of China, and east of India. The name has its origins in the French, Indochine, as a combination of the names of "China" and "India", and was adopted when French colonizers in Vietnam began expanding their territory...
". He was sentenced to six years in prison.
The Catonsville Nine
In 1968, after his release on bail, Berrigan decided to repeat the protest in a somewhat modified form. George Mische played the decisive role in organizing this action. A local high schoolSecondary education
Secondary education is the stage of education following primary education. Secondary education includes the final stage of compulsory education and in many countries it is entirely compulsory. The next stage of education is usually college or university...
physics
Physics
Physics is a natural science that involves the study of matter and its motion through spacetime, along with related concepts such as energy and force. More broadly, it is the general analysis of nature, conducted in order to understand how the universe behaves.Physics is one of the oldest academic...
teacher
Teacher
A teacher or schoolteacher is a person who provides education for pupils and students . The role of teacher is often formal and ongoing, carried out at a school or other place of formal education. In many countries, a person who wishes to become a teacher must first obtain specified professional...
, Dean Pappas, helped to concoct homemade napalm
Napalm
Napalm is a thickening/gelling agent generally mixed with gasoline or a similar fuel for use in an incendiary device, primarily as an anti-personnel weapon...
. Nine activists, who later became known as the Catonsville Nine
Catonsville Nine
The Catonsville Nine were nine Catholic activists who burned draft files to protest the Vietnam War. On May 17, 1968 they went to the draft board in Catonsville, Maryland, took 378 draft files, brought them to the parking lot in wire baskets, dumped them out, poured homemade napalm over them, and...
, walked into the draft board of Catonsville, Maryland
Catonsville, Maryland
According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of , all of it land.-Demographics:In 2010 Catonsville had a population of 41,567...
, removed draft records and burned 378 draft files in a lot outside of the building. The Catonsville Nine, who were all Catholic
Catholic
The word catholic comes from the Greek phrase , meaning "on the whole," "according to the whole" or "in general", and is a combination of the Greek words meaning "about" and meaning "whole"...
s, issued a statement:
- "We confront the Roman Catholic ChurchRoman Catholic ChurchThe Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
, other Christian bodies, and the synagogues of America with their silence and cowardice in the face of our country's crimes. We are convinced that the religious bureaucracy in this country is racistRacismRacism is the belief that inherent different traits in human racial groups justify discrimination. In the modern English language, the term "racism" is used predominantly as a pejorative epithet. It is applied especially to the practice or advocacy of racial discrimination of a pernicious nature...
, is an accomplice in this war, and is hostile to the poor."
While he was staying at the rectory, located on the fourth floor of the Church of St. Gregory the Great, on the Upper West Side
Upper West Side
The Upper West Side is a neighborhood in the borough of Manhattan, New York City, that lies between Central Park and the Hudson River and between West 59th Street and West 125th Street...
in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, the FBI broke down the church's door to arrest him. He was sentenced to three and a half years in prison.
The Harrisburg Seven
Berrigan attracted the notice of federal authorities again when he and six other anti-war activists were caught trading letters alluding to kidnapping Henry Kissinger and bombing steam tunnels. Although the government spent $2 million on the Harrisburg SevenHarrisburg Seven
The Harrisburg Seven were a group of religious anti-war activists led by Philip Berrigan. The "Seven" were Berrigan, Sister Elizabeth McAlister, Rev. Neil McLaughlin, Rev. Joseph Wenderoth, Eqbal Ahmed, Anthony Scoblick, and Mary Cain Scoblick....
trial in 1972, they could not win a conviction. This was one of the first reversals suffered by the U.S. government in such cases.
Other non-violent actions 1968 to 1975
Other non-violent actions against the Vietnam War and the government-military complex were organized by a group that referred to themselves as the Catholic Left. Phil Berrigan either helped to plan or inspired these actions, along with many other organisers- such as Jerry Elmer (his book A Felon for Peace). The characteristic of these actions was that each action was stringently non-violent. Also, the action would done by a small group of people willing to take responsibility whether or not it meant facing jail time. The planning for the actions was always a series of mini retreats in which those who finally acted worked to further their political and personal commitment to non-violence. The following are some of those actions:The DC Nine: nine men and women, seven were priests and Religious Sisters (this was a daytime protest against the Dow Chemical Company
Dow Chemical Company
The Dow Chemical Company is a multinational corporation headquartered in Midland, Michigan, United States. As of 2007, it is the second largest chemical manufacturer in the world by revenue and as of February 2009, the third-largest chemical company in the world by market capitalization .Dow...
and its production of napalm for use in the Vietnam
Vietnam
Vietnam – sometimes spelled Viet Nam , officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam – is the easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by China to the north, Laos to the northwest, Cambodia to the southwest, and the South China Sea –...
conflict). The DC Nine were later tried in Washington, D.C., but an appeal was won in their favor. Some jail time was served.
The Milwaukee 14 against the Milwaukee Draft Boards, September 24, 1968: fourteen men burned 10,000 1-A draft files. After being arrested, they spent a month in prison, unable to raise bail set at $415,000. Father James Groppi
James Groppi
Father James Edmund Groppi was a Roman Catholic priest and noted civil rights activist.-Early years, education, ordination as priest:...
came to their aid, co-chairing the Milwaukee 14 Defense Committee. Members were later placed on trial and many did considerable jail time.
The New York Action: included men who were Jesuit priests at the time. Against the New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
Draft Boards.
The Chicago 15:
The Boston Eight: included other priests and Religious Sisters. These people stole files out of 4 Boston Draft Boards in order to prove that the State of Mass was drafting mostly Puerto Ricans
Puerto Rican people
A Puerto Rican is a person who was born in Puerto Rico.Puerto Ricans born and raised in the continental United States are also sometimes referred to as Puerto Ricans, although they were not born in Puerto Rico...
and poor whites to fill their quotas. No charges were ever brought, though the participants claimed responsibility the day after the action to the press in Boston, and again during the November Moratorium in Washington DC.
The East Coast Conspiracy to Save Lives: an action against the Philadelphia Draft Boards and General Electric
General Electric
General Electric Company , or GE, is an American multinational conglomerate corporation incorporated in Schenectady, New York and headquartered in Fairfield, Connecticut, United States...
, which had contracts specifically to create incendiary weapons for use in Vietnam.
The Camden 28 Group: action against the Camden area FBI offices to expose the methods of J. Edgar Hoover
J. Edgar Hoover
John Edgar Hoover was the first Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation of the United States. Appointed director of the Bureau of Investigation—predecessor to the FBI—in 1924, he was instrumental in founding the FBI in 1935, where he remained director until his death in 1972...
against war protesters. The group was arrested and the trial resulted in a hung jury
Hung jury
A hung jury or deadlocked jury is a jury that cannot, by the required voting threshold, agree upon a verdict after an extended period of deliberation and is unable to change its votes due to severe differences of opinion.- England and Wales :...
.
The Buffalo Five: an action coordinated with the Camden Action against Buffalo Draft Boards. Five of the group were put on trial and they were found guilty however Judge John Curtain handed out no jail sentences. His statement at sentencing indicated support for the action. A book has been written about this action by Ed Mcgowan and a documentary made by Giacchino, which appeared on PBS TV.
The Harrisburg Seven: the plan was to put people in the government like Henry Kissinger
Henry Kissinger
Heinz Alfred "Henry" Kissinger is a German-born American academic, political scientist, diplomat, and businessman. He is a recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize. He served as National Security Advisor and later concurrently as Secretary of State in the administrations of Presidents Richard Nixon and...
under Citizens Arrest for the waging of an illegal war. Phillip Berrigan and others were arrested for conspiracy. They had only gotten together to discuss the idea.
This is but a cursory and abbreviated summary of the draft actions, including actions where responsibility was claimed, and actions which may not have numbered in the 200's.
In 1968, Berrigan signed the “Writers and Editors War Tax Protest” pledge, vowing to refuse tax payments in protest against the Vietnam War.
The Plowshares Movement
On September 9, 1980, Berrigan, his brother Daniel, and six others (the "Plowshares Eight") began the Plowshares MovementPlowshares Movement
The Plowshares Movement is an anti-nuclear weapons movement that gained notoriety in the early 1980s when several members damaged government property and were subsequently convicted.-History:...
when they entered the General Electric
General Electric
General Electric Company , or GE, is an American multinational conglomerate corporation incorporated in Schenectady, New York and headquartered in Fairfield, Connecticut, United States...
Nuclear Missile Re-entry Division in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania
King of Prussia, Pennsylvania
King of Prussia is a census-designated place in Upper Merion Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, United States. As of the 2010 census, its population was 19,936. The community took its name in the 18th century from a local tavern named the King of Prussia Inn, which was named after...
where nose cones for the Mark 12A warheads were made. They hammered on two nose cones, poured blood on documents and offered prayers for peace. They were arrested and initially charged with over ten different felony and misdemeanor counts. On April 10, 1990, after nearly ten years of trials and appeals, the Plowshares Eight were re-sentenced and paroled for up to 23 and 1/2 months in consideration of time already served in prison. A documentary was made about this action called "In the King of Prussia" by Emile de Antonio
Emile de Antonio
Emile de Antonio was a director and producer of documentary films, usually detailing political or social events circa 1960s–1980s...
.
Since this action over seventy Plowshares actions have taken place around the world against weapons of war. Several of the initial ones involved Berrigan himself.
Berrigan's final Plowshares action was in December 1999, when he and others banged on A-10 Warthog
A-10 Thunderbolt II
The Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II is an American single-seat, twin-engine, straight-wing jet aircraft developed by Fairchild-Republic in the early 1970s. The A-10 was designed for a United States Air Force requirement to provide close air support for ground forces by attacking tanks,...
warplanes in an anti-war protest at the Warfield Air National Guard Base
Warfield Air National Guard Base
Warfield Air National Guard Base is the home base of the Maryland Air National Guard 175th Wing.-Overview:Martin State Airport, MD, is home to the 175th Wing of the Maryland Air National Guard, itself composed of the 135th Airlift Group and the 175th Fighter Group...
. He was convicted of malicious destruction of property and sentenced to 30 months in prison. He was released December 14, 2001. In his lifetime he had spent about 11 years in jails and prisons for civil disobedience. http://www.commondreams.org/news2002/1206-01.htm
In one of his last public statements, Berrigan said,
The American people are, more and more, making their voices heard against BushGeorge W. BushGeorge Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
and his warrior clones. Bush and his minions slip out of control, determined to go to war, determined to go it alone, determined to endanger the Palestinians further, determined to control IraqIraqIraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
i oil, determined to ravage further a suffering people and their shattered society. The American people can stop Bush, can yank his feet closer to the fire, can banish the war makers from Washington D.C., can turn this society around and restore it to faith and sanity.
Death
Philip Berrigan died of cancerCancer
Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
at the age of 79 in Baltimore, Maryland. He was survived by his wife, Elizabeth McAlister, and their three children.
Howard Zinn
Howard Zinn
Howard Zinn was an American historian, academic, author, playwright, and social activist. Before and during his tenure as a political science professor at Boston University from 1964-88 he wrote more than 20 books, which included his best-selling and influential A People's History of the United...
, Professor Emeritus at Boston University
Boston University
Boston University is a private research university located in Boston, Massachusetts. With more than 4,000 faculty members and more than 31,000 students, Boston University is one of the largest private universities in the United States and one of Boston's largest employers...
, paid this tribute to Berrigan:
He was buried on the grounds of Jonah House. Berrigan's widow, Elizabeth McAlister, and others still maintain Jonah House in Baltimore and a website that details all Plowshares activities.
Further reading
Berrigan was the author of several books, including No More Strangers, Punishment for Peace (ISBN 0-345-22430-2), Prison Journals of a Priest Revolutionary (ISBN 0-03-084513-0), Punishment for Peace (ISBN 0-345-02430-3), and Widen the Prison Gates (ISBN 0-671-21638-4). In 1996, he wrote his autobiography, Fighting the Lamb's War (ISBN 1-56751-101-5), and with his wife wrote The Times' Discipline.Murray Polner and Jim O'Grady, "Disarmed and Dangerous: The Radical Lives & Times of Daniel & Philip Berrigan (Basic Books, 1997; Westvew Press, 1998) He also contributed to Disciples and Dissidents, published in 2000 by Haley's. Fred Wilcox edited the book.
Jerry Elmer Felon for Peace
Art Laffin-Plowshares Actions, a Chronology