During the 1980s I was involved in a campaign at a cruise missile engine plant in Walled Lake, Michigan,m where there made the motors for cruise missiles. There was lawful non-disruptive picketing and leafleting as well as Quaker-Catholic Worker-SNCC-style direct action -- people blocked the plant entrance, trespassing. First they were arrested (immediately). The plant got an injunction, so the trespassers were in contempt. Then they were jailed for contempt. Of course we didn't expect to shut down the plant even for a day, and in the end the publicity involved in the arrests and the jail type was bad for the plant and good for us.
However, I'd estimate that Doug is about right about what would happen with an attempt to have stopped its operations for real. In fact, people doing that would risk being charged under the new anti-terrorism laws, not available then, that make it domestic terrorism to engage in otherwise illegal activity that poses a threat to persons or property with the intention of influencing government policy. Naturally if you brought out tens of thousands of people that would change the political equation, but I don't see anyone bringing out tens of thousands for lawful demos or nonviolent civil disobedience. Or did I miss something?
--- Doug Henwood <dhenwood at panix.com> wrote:
>
> On Sep 11, 2007, at 7:56 PM, Chuck wrote:
>
> > You want strategy? Bring the anti-war movement out
> to Independence,
> > Missouri for a visit to the Lake City ammo plant.
> That plant supplies
> > *all* of the small arms ammunition being used in
> the ongoing war. Shut
> > down that plant for a week and you'll have the
> warmongers by the
> > balls.
>
> You and what army? Do you know what the US
> government would do if
> something like this happened? Massive force to
> remove everyone
> involved and then massive force to prevent a
> recurrence. The US state
> would probably stop at nothing to protect its
> warmaking power. And if
> the admin spun it as protecting the troops, public
> approval would be
> 70%.
>
> Doug
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