Test launch of nuclear weapon and arrest at Vandenberg Air Force Base

Three women watched the launch of a nuclear weapon from Vandenberg Air Force Base shortly after 1 am on August 6. The Minuteman III had mock warheads and was aimed at Kwajalein in the Marshall Islands. The Marshall Islanders, of course, are still suffering after 67 nuclear bomb tests there in 1946 to 1958.

At 5 am the three women went to the Vandenberg gate expecting a few others to join them for a peaceful vigil there. No civil disobedience was planned or occurred. However, one of the women -- MacGregor Eddy -- was under a ban and bar order from the base. In 2005 she had crossed the green line at the gate to hand guards literature on the Nuremberg principles. She warned them that they and Vandenberg Air Force Base were engaged in illegal acts under international law and the U.S. Constitution which could result in their prosecution. Here follows MacGregor's account of her second arrest by military officers on August 13:
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I was arrested August 13 at 6 am by MP's at Vandenberg Space Command. I was attending a protest of the Minuteman III ICBM test launch. This planned peaceful protest was part of Nuclear Free Future month. I did not cross the painted line that the base uses to designate the boundary. I was in the "designated protest area " and I did do anything to provoke arrest on 08/13. I do have a "ban and bar" order issued by the base in 2005.

Sandee Scott a nurse from Pacific Grove and Sheila Baker from San Luis Obispo were also at the protest.

When we arrived at the front gate at 5 am for the scheduled protest there were at least 20 uniformed men with camouflage, flak jackets and weapons. One officer began demanding if my name was MacGregor Eddy.

I asked them if the base had tested an ICBM delivery system for a weapon of mass destruction, , early that morning. A spokesperson stated that no treaties were broken by the launch at 1:01 am 08/13.

I then asked if this launch violated article VI of the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). I stated that the launch was illegal under the 1996 International Court ruling.

I read aloud from John Burroughs book The Illegality of the threat or Use of Nuclear Weapons: A Guide to the Historic Opinion of the International Court of Justice.'

I tried to give the arresting officers the Burroughs book but they would not take it. (If they had they could have read my name where John had signed it to me!)

When the MP's asked me if I was MacGregor Eddy I did not answer. I said I was a civilian and not under military authority.

I did not resist. They took my fingerprints and brought out large notebooks with photos of peace protests including many photos of me.

The base was on high alert status because of the launch. It was different than any other time I have been there. They were all heavily armed (extra side arms, full bullet proof flak jackets, names covered with olive green duct tape and lots of weaponry on ATV's roaming around.)

I was given two citations, one for trespassing and one for resisting arrest and obstructing an officer by not giving my name.

They also issued a permanent "ban and bar" which I did not accept.

In 2005 I crossed the line and then I did identify myself. I was convicted of trespass in federal court I paid the fine and complied with the terms of my two year probation I believe in upholding the rule of law. Our government is violating the Non Proliferation Treaty and the staff of VAFB are responsible under the Nuremberg principles.