Six months later, another major action took place--this time involving the planting of warning flags around Alliant's new facilities in Edina. Sixteen people were arrested. One individual plead guilty at the first arraignment and was sentenced to community service. The remaining 15 went on trial March 25, 2002, and were convicted by a six person jury that had deliberated for a little over two hours. Judge E. McKensie sentenced the group to ten days of community service or seven days in jail. Five individuals, including three Sisters of St. Joseph, chose to serve the week in jail. One individual was sentenced to serve 30 days with seven actual days incarcerated and the balance on home monitoring.

21. John LaForge, disarmament activist and co-director of the peace action group Nukewatch, joined with approximately forty other people for a special Alliant vigil to mark the International Day of Action Against Depleted Uranium (DU) - May 29, 2002.

John and others were especially critical of Alliant Techsystems' failure to clean up DU at the Twin Cities Army Ammunition Plant-- where they left toxic deleted uranium waste after producing 16 million DU shells.

Off-site Links: Campaign Against Depleted Uranium and Nukewatch

22. Jane McDonald, CSJ - May 29, 2002. "Those of us who vigil at Alliant Techsystems every Wednesday morning oppose this company that profits from killing and destruction," says Jane. "It's a company with international sales offices in over 40 countries around the world--even as they claim to 'be proud to be keeping the American soldier out of harm's way.'"

23. Anne Newhart - July 2002.

24. Ken Masters - July 2002. "I found this sign fifteen years ago near 4th Ave. South and 28th Street" says Ken, referring to the former site of the Honeywell corporation. "Some folks there invited me to stand with them and I've been doing it ever since. Nobody has hired me yet, but I have hope."

25. Marguerite Corcoran, CSJ - July 2002. For the last twenty years Marguerite has worked with women and children at Incarnation House--a Minneapolis-based establisment which she describes as "a place for women getting out of chemical dependency and needing a supportive system for a short time until they're able to be independent."

Commenting on her sign, "People Before Profits," Marguerite notes that it has been disturbing to watch funds gradually being cut from services provided by places like Incarnation House. "Back in the 1980s, it was possible to get women what they needed so as to get back on their feet and be able to care for their children. But at this point it's really difficult. When you see where the money is going--to military contractors like Alliant--and where the profits are, it's very disturbing."

Nevertheless, Marguerite finds inspiration from "the wonderful community" who gather to vigil at Alliant and from this community's shared belief that "it is small groups that are going to make change in the world."

26. Susu Jeffrey wears what she calls her "American" sign - July 2002. "We have to hold peace as the idea and the ideal and just go toward it," says Susu. "I think it's so simple." When asked what a corporation like Alliant Techsystems could make instead of weapons, Susu responds, "We need some really smart people who have a lot of engineering abilities to fix a transit system for us--a multi-modal transit system. Everything from bicycles to airplanes so that we can breathe clean air and go places. We have plenty of work to do here. At the same time though, we need to be a little more generous with foreign aid abroad."

Asked why she's part of the weekly vigil at Alliant Techsystems' corporate headquarters, Susu reflects that "As Americans, we wouldn't have to have so many 'things' if we were happier, and the way to happiness, as the Dali Lama says, is in service to each other. So what am I doing here? I'm doing my public servive."

27. Marilyn Schmidt - August 2002. "I'm here every week because I like to protest with a great group of people against Alliant Techsystem's manufacturing of weapons, " says Marilyn. "It's just one little thing I can do."