Brisbane Action Against Nuclear Submarine

A group had protested on Thursday 4 July at Fishermans Island wharf, over the
arrival of the US nuclear-powered attack submarine the USS Cavalla.  However
the protest group on the Saturday were prevented from entering the access
road to the wharf, being told it was a private road.  With little time for
planning due to the peace movement not having been alerted to the ship's
visit before it docked, a few people got together to plan an action for
Monday.

Three were to do a water action with the focus on presenting a warrant to the
captain for his arrest, to bring him before a people's tribunal.  The warrant
was on the basis of crimes against humanity and international law, whilst a
large number would hold a support action at the site of the police road
block.  Everything was to commence at 4pm and the media to be alerted just
beforehand.

Brian Law, Jim Dowling and Jerry Smith approached the ship in a zodiac
inflatable boat at around 4pm, but it soon became apparent that the water
police had somehow been alerted of the action - there were three large police
boats and a zodiac present, well beyond the numbers the day before.

When the police zodiac initially caught up with them half-way across the
water, Brian leapt out with the warrant and swam towards the sub.  They kept
on and when they were finally stopped, Jim also jumped into the water with
the warrant.  The police pulled out the boat's fuel line and told Jerry to
paddle the other way, then proceeded to pick up all three.  Interestingly,
the water police officer in charge stated that he'd see that the captain
received the warrant.

During this time, those on the land had formed a picket line, whilst their
relatively small number was quickly outnumbered by the scores of police that
raced to the scene.  The group attempted to walk down the road whilst Brendan
Greenhill tried to chain himself to a pole located at the checkpoint.  When
the police pushed the group back, four people continued to go forward again
and again, whilst the remainder stood with banners and placards.  Eventually
the four were permitted to stand on the road, with a line of ten or so police
facing them an arms length away.

From there the four sang, conversed and narrated previous nuclear sub
accidents to the police.  Each time they tried to walk further forward they
were pushed back.  The police had dragged Brendan away from the pole, where
he then successfully proceeded to chain himself beneath the bus for
transporting the sailors to town.

After the three from the water were seen taken away, the group departed to
complete the action at 5:30pm (the bus left straight after Brendan detached
himself!).  The land action was lacking in numbers and planned strategy, but
nevertheless achieved its purpose and people generally felt it was a positive
action.  It was very obvious that the land police had been instructed to
avoid arrests and negative publicity.

All three from the water action were charged with hindering and resisting
police.  Jim and Jerry pleaded not guilty and are to appear in court on 7
August, whilst Brian, who was unable to stay for court, pleaded guilty and
received a $100 fine or four days jail on default.  A couple of other facts
worth noting were that most of the police on the wharf were wearing radiation
monitoring devices and many of them expressed feelings against the sub's
presence, with one policeman stating angrily on the Saturday, "You don't know
how we feel about this boat!".
Jim Dowling and Shelley Houghton

Eds Note:
Since this article was written, Jim and Jerry have been convicted and fined
$250 plus $106 witness expenses or 2 weeksin jail and $150 plus $106 wirness
expenses or one month in jail.  Jim refused to pay and was jailed straight
away.  Jerry is appealing to the district court.  The most interesting point
brought out in the trial was that a sympathetic police officer delivered the
"citizen's warrant" to the commander of the USS Cavalla on Jim's behalf.