STOP THE MILITARIZATION OF SPACE;
PEACE ACTIVISTS TO APPEAR IN L.A. FEDERAL COURT
WHO: Actor Martin Sheen and 21 other nonviolent protesters who were arrested at Vandenberg Air Force Base on October 7, 2000

STOP THE MILITARIZATION OF SPACE;
PEACE ACTIVISTS TO APPEAR IN L.A. FEDERAL COURT
WHO: Actor Martin Sheen and 21 other nonviolent protesters who were arrested at Vandenberg Air Force Base on October 7, 2000

WHAT: Press conference followed by arraignment in Federal Court

WHERE: Front steps of the Roybal Federal Building 255 E. Temple Street, Los Angeles

WHEN: 8:15 am, Wednesday, June 27, 2001
Arraignment is scheduled for 8:45 a.m. in Courtroom 1439, 14th floor
WHY: Actor Martin Sheen and 21 other peace activists are
scheduled to be arraigned in Los Angeles County Federal Court this
Wednesday June 27, on federal trespass charges arising from a nonviolent
protest at Vandenberg Air Force Base on October 7, 2000.

The demonstration was part of an internationally-coordinated day of
protest to stop the militarization of space. Demonstrations took place in
16 countries and over 34 U.S. cities.

Vandenberg Air Force Base, 8 miles north of Lompoc, California is
the U.S. launch site for National Missile Defense (NMD) interceptor tests, first-strike nuclear missile tests and military satellites. The controversial NMD proposal, to deploy missiles intended to counter missile warheads aimed at the continental U.S., is only a small part of a broad set of initiatives for weapons which would operate through and from space. Research and development are underway on a suite of national missile defense technologies, including space-based weapons, which threaten to ignite a new global arms race. According to the U.S. Space Command's 'Vision for 2020,' the goal is "dominating the space dimension of military
operations to protect US national interests and investment." The Bush Administration's support for NMD has met with international condemnation.

At a hearing in Lompoc last December, the October 2000 arrestees had their cases transferred to Federal Court in Los Angeles. After more than six months with no activitity in the case, they were notified to appear for arraignment tomorrow. Thirty two other nonviolent activists
arrested at Vandenberg on May 19 and 20, 2001 were arraigned earlier this month.

If found guilty, the protesters face up to six months in jail.