WILPF report on Shoshone demonstration against Divine Strake:

Barbara Taft, Phoenix WILPF Branch, writes: I went with a group from Arizona Alliance for Peace and Justice. We connected up with the folks from Tona-tierra, a local indigenous people's organization, so there were about a dozen of us from the Phoenix area.

The event turned out well, although it was probably severely reduced in size due to the government's announcement of an indefinite postponement of their
"Divine Strake" test. It was a very spiritual experience, with leaders from the Western Shoshone taking part and leading in various ceremonies at the encampment across the freeway from the Test Site. Although some of the media apparently put the attendance at as many as 300 people, I was counting the ones at the event where the photo was taken (just prior to going up to the line, where more than 30 people eventually crossed and were arrested) and I only came up with 125-130.

MacGregor Eddy was one of several speakers who led a workshop. She gave excellent material on the international protest movement against nuclear weaponry. On the same workshop slate was Andy Lichterman of Western States Legal Foundation, who talked about other aspects of nuclear weapons development.

Everyone was buoyed by the postponement, but no one was fooled into believing
it would be permanent. We celebrated the fact that it had occurred, and the
fact that, instead of demonstrating under the usual 100 degree weather, we got
perfect blue skies with only gentle winds and weather in the 70s and 80s. It
was good that the predicted high winds didn't materialize, as they blow up
the radioactive dust even more. In many ways, it was a perfect day to
demonstrate there.

The short speeches given by many of those who chose to be arrested were very
inspirational. Many spoke to the destruction of Mother Earth, telling the
guards and police who were there to arrest them that they knew even the
guards and police loved their mother and would do everything to protect her.
One of the police officers was nodding his head in agreement, and I saw a
tear come to his eye, although he quickly regained his composure.

We were led by the wooden staffs carried by several native peoples, representing
a variety of tribes. We were told that their tradition believes the trees
will rise up in protest against the defilement of the earth, and that is what
the staffs represent. Also, we had words of inspiration from Corbin Harney,
a Western Shoshone Spiritual Person, and Carrie Dann, of the Western Shoshone Defense Project. There were several others, but these two were the most impressive.

Just before we walked to the gate/entrance to the Site, Tupac,
one of the leaders of Tonatierra, led us in a spirit prayer to the four
directions sacred to the native peoples--north, south, east and west--plus
the directions of the sky and the earth. He blew into a conch shell for a long
time in each direction. The sound carried a long distance through the still air.
We were led to the gate by the elders, the staff carriers, and the rest of the
tribal members. Those who crossed the line, which included a few of the
Western Shoshone, carried permits issued by the tribe, giving permission to
be on the land. Some of the statements made to the officers pointed out that
this is Shoshone land, and that the government is in violation of treaties
by even being there.

That's what I can tell you about it. It was a great experience. It was
something I felt I needed to do because, as a child, I was on the Test Site
during an above-ground test. My mother passed a Do Not Enter sign and was
stopped by a Nevada State Trooper. As she turned the car and trailer around,
I saw a five-legged cow and a two-headed calf, something I have never
forgotten. Then the ground shook. It wasn't until I was in college that
I understood what had happened that day. So, this was a sort of pilgrimage
for me.