PORTLAND, Maine, May 8 -- Six peace activists convicted in Maine of property destruction and conspiracy charges involving damage to a Navy destroyer say a higher law compelled them to act. After the federal jury convicted former Jesuit priest Philip Berrigan and five others Wednesday, protests broke out outside the federal courthouse and at the Bath Iron Works facilities in Portland.
Five of the activistshad been removed from the courthouse before the verdict was read because they had turned their backs on U.S. District Court Judge Gene Carter and were reading Bible scripture aloud. Acting as their own lawyers, they were protesting the judge's ruling that they could not invoke international law in their defense. The 73-year-old Berrigan shouted 'Thou shall not kill,' as he was led away. By the close of the day, 14 more protesters had been jailed, including one who had climbed the courthouse front wall to unfurl the banner of Berrigan's organization, the 'Prince of Peace Plowshares.' The activists were convicted of having boarded the Aegis destroyer USS Sullivans at the Bath Iron Works shipyard Feb. 12, smashing control panels and spilling blood of its deck. Prosecutors said the group caused some $80,000 in damage. Convicted were Berrigan; Steven Baggarly, 31, of Norfolk, Va.; Mark Colville, 36, of New Haven, Conn.; Susan Crane, 53, of Ukiah, Cailf.; Stephen Kelly, 49, of New York; and Thomas Lewis-Borbely, 58, of Worcester, Mass. No sentencing date has been set, but each could be fined $500,000 and sentenced to prison for up to 15 years. ---
Copyright 1997 by United Press International. All rights reserved. ---
