Nun, 82 Year Old Activist

[LOVE SONGS]

Two men and an 82-year-old nun who allegedly broke into the U.S. government's only storage facility for weapons-grade enriched uranium and splashed it with human blood may face additional charges, the U.S. Attorney for Eastern Tennessee told ABC News Thursday.

The peace activists, Sister Megan Rice, 82, of Nevada; Michael Walli, 63, of Washington, D.C.; and Greg Boertje-Obed, 57, of Duluth, Minn., were charged with trespassing after allegedly breaking into the Y-12 national security complex in Oak Ridge, Tennessee at 4:30 a.m. Saturday.

U.S. Attorney Bill Killian said more charges would be filed against the defendants, but did not say what the charges would be.

"Some of the defendants here have prior records involving various facilities through the country," said Killian. "This is a matter of national security and it is a significant case."

The protestors, who are members of the "Transform Now Plowshares" movement, allegedly cut through four fences to gain access to the Highly Enriched Uranium Materials Facility, which holds enriched uranium. According to Wyatt, they spray-painted the building and splashed human blood on it, according to Y-12 spokesman Steven Wyatt. They also left banners and read from the Bible.

No nuclear materials were ever at risk during the break-in, Wyatt said.

The use of blood was meant to "[remind] us of the horrific spilling of blood by nuclear weapons," Plowshares said in statement released via its website Monday.

"We come to the Y-12 facility because our very humanity rejects the designs of nuclearism, empire and war," the statement said. "Our faith in love and nonviolence encourages us to believe that our activity here is necessary; that we come to invite transformation, undo the past and present work of Y-12; disarm and end any further efforts to increase the Y-12 capacity for an economy and social structure based upon war-making and empire-building."

Before being taken to the Blount County jail, where they're currently being held, Walli, Rice and Boertje-Obed gave bread to the Y-12 security officers.

The three were arraigned on federal trespassing charges in district federal court in Knoxville Monday. If convicted, the activists could face up to $100,000 fine and up to a year in prison.

Following the break-in, B&W, the management and operating contractor for Y-12, ordered a temporary security stand-down, which is expected to end next week. All nuclear operations will stop during the stand-down and security personnel will undergo training and refresher instruction.

"We've just got to do this to make sure we get the answers we need to address what happened and move forward," Wyatt told ABC News.

The Department of Energy Inspector General is investigating how the trio broke in. "There's never been anything quite like this before," Wyatt said.

The targeted facility was built in 2010, Wyatt said. It is longer than a football field and was built with security in mind. Additionally, Y-12 employs more than 500 security officers.

Walli was one of ten activists who were convicted last year of trespassing after they intentionally crossed a blue line separating state and federal property at the Y-12 complex in 2010, Knoxville ABC affiliate WATE reported.

"When we spoke with them from jail on Saturday, they were, I have described it as elated, because they did what they wanted to do, they came back," Ellen Barfield, a friend of the activists, told WATE.

[LOVE SONGS]

[ladypeartree]

you have to question just how secure any " facility " is if an 80+ year old can " break in " !!!!!! My 80+ year old mum couldnt even break into a jar of pickled beetroot this week ! ........ and if as it appears from reading this article , someone can be arrested for just " intentionaly stepping over a blue line that seperates state from federal " then the country is in danger of becoming a laughing stock

If the stuff IS dangerous then it should be far more secure and if it is not then you have to ask why anyone would want to contaminate it ...self seaking publicity or a real concern ??? There have to be better ways than this to get a point across

[LOVE SONGS]

Lol...about your Mum...thats funny.

You do have a point there. People will apt to do anything these days. There is always something new in the news.

Now Nuns are getting involved . humm.

[ncn]

Most disturbing.

Just goes to show that nuns no matter how old they may be or how sweet and nice they appear

when they get something into their heads you can't hold them back.

I think they train them from an early age by getting them to open jars of pickled beetroot!

Once trained they never loose the habit

[The_Patriot21]

The one thing I know in life, is never underestimate young children or little old ladies. Kids, don't think about consequences, old ladies dont care.

As far as secure, well, it probably was depending on how you look at it. Best way to describe it, movie analogy. Take the Death Star from star wars A new Hope. Its defenses were designed around a large scale attack from big star ships-small, one man star fighters wernt deemed a threat, so they managed to penetrate the defenses, and blow up the death star. You notice, by the time the second death star was made, it was far better protected.

Same thing here, the facility was designed to keep other, militant people out-large scale intruders or those carrying enough equipment to do damage. A little old lady and 2 other senior citizens brandishing fence cutters and spray paint wernt considered a threat, though I imagine thats changed now.

[jasoncran]

that is because they dont likely patrol the walls or fences. if they did that in afghanistan they would have gun shots and been dragged to a site to be examined then buried.

protest all you want but lets not break the law.im sure the hippy friend of mine would be made if i or any christian broke into planned parenthood and leveled the building with a torch or also such like

[LOVE SONGS]

Most disturbing.

Just goes to show that nuns no matter how old they may be or how sweet and nice they appear

when they get something into their heads you can't hold them back.

I think they train them from an early age by getting them to open jars of pickled beetroot!

Once trained they never loose the habit

Tooo...Funnny .... !!! ..... She might become another Bonnie .....or Annie oklie ...