Three peace activists that broke into the Y-12 National Security Complex in July were convicted yesterday in a U.S. District Court in Knoxville of two felony charges, including damaging government property and damaging national defense. Megan Rice, an 83-year-old Catholic nun, as well as Michael Walli, 64, and Greg Boertje-Obed, 56, face up to 30 years in prison for breaking into Y-12, where they penetrated the highest levels of security and reached the Highly Enriched Uranium Materials Facility, where they spray-painted messages, symbolically hammered on the concrete building, and splashed human blood on its walls. A jury deliberated for 2 ½ hours before returning the verdict yesterday.
Prosecuting attorneys argued that the protesters set out to disrupt operations at Y-12. “When you interfere with Y-12, you are interfering with the national defense,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeff Theodore said during closing arguments yesterday. The peace activists claimed the break-in was justified because nuclear weapons are illegal under international law and a threat to mankind, and their lawyers emphasized that the protesters should not be punished because of the security failings at the site. Sentencing for the protesters is expected to take approximately three months. Theodore and Melissa Kirby, the assistant U.S. attorneys who shared the prosecution of the high-profile case, responded to questions with a joint statement. “We appreciate the jury’s verdict, and hope it sends a strong message that those who attempt to compromise the security of the Y-12 National Security Complex will be vigorously prosecuted,” they said.