3 peace demonstrators Detained at Peterson

Three demonstrators were detained by the Air Force on Friday for trespassing onto Peterson Air Force Base during a silent vigil to protest war.

The demonstrators were attempting to deliver a letter to an Air Force general when they were stopped by a handful of military personnel. The three - Sister Barbara Huber of Sisters of Charity of Cincinnati, Sister Mary Ann Cunningham of the Sisters of Loretto in Denver and Esther Kisamore of Colorado Springs - were released to the Colorado Springs Police Department, which will decide if trespass charges will be filed, said Peterson Air Force Base Staff Sgt. Stacey Haga.

The incident happened during the seventh annual Sisters Witness Against War event, at the North Gate of Peterson Air Force Base. Sisters from the Colorado Springs orders of Mount St. Francis and Benet Hill were joined by sisters from other orders and members of the community.

About 45 people participated, some of whom were carrying signs and banners promoting nonviolence.

The demonstration coincides with the anniversaries of the dropping of the atomic bomb on Nagasaki and Hiroshima on Aug. 6 and 9, 1945. The U.S. bombings killed hundreds of thousands of people and brought about Japan's surrender that ended World War II.

"We remember the tragedy of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in hopes that they will never happen again," said Benet Hill Sister Therese O'Grady, who participated in the event.

The vigil is not only about remembering those lost in the bombings; it is also a reminder of humankind's propensity to engage in war to solve problems, the sisters said.

"I am hopeful that more people realize that war gets us nowhere," said Sister Dorothy Schlaeger of Mount St. Francis. "People are beginning to realize that we need other solutions before we destroy the whole planet."

Huber said she had mailed letters asking for peace to a general at Peterson Air Force Base but had received no reply.

"I want to deliver the letter to him personally," she said before the detainment.

Demonstrators hope their hourlong vigil brought attention to what they call war's futility.

"We hoped to generate more awareness about solving conflict in humane and peaceful ways," O'Grady said. "We stand for the peace of Jesus Christ."

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CONTACT THE WRITER: 636-0367 or mark.barna@gazette.com.