American Dominican sisters in jail

Catholic New Times, Feb 29, 2004 by Janet Somerville

Three Grand Rapids Michigan Dominican sisters, Carol Gilbert, Jackie Hudson and Ardeth Platte (above), now serving two to three years in federal prisons for convictions of civil disobedience charges are welcoming cards and letters of support.

On Oct. 6, 2002, they cut a chain-link fence and entered an active nuclear missile silo site in rural Colorado. Declaring the Minuteman 111 to be a weapon of mass destruction, the nuns painted six crosses in their own blood in a symbolic act of disarmament.

When FBI U.S. military and local law enforcement authorities surrounded the women, they were praying. Handcuffed on the ground for 3 hours, they were later taken to the Clear Creek County jail, where they spent seven months awaiting trial and sentencing.

In July 2003 they were the first persons convicted of sabotage since President Bush signed the Patriot Act into law. A new documentary, U.S. Versus Gilbert, Hudson and Platte has been produced by Little Voice films.

Addresses for the sisters are:

Carol Gilbert, #10856-039

R1 FPC Alderson

PO Box A

Alderson, W.V. 24910

Jackie Hudson, #08808-039

Federal Prison Camp

Victorville

PO Box 5100

Adelanto,. C.A. 92301

Ardeth Platte, #10857-039

FCI Danbury

Route 37

Danbury CT 06811

Send only cards or letters--do

not include stamps, money,

envelopes or other items.