Catonsville Nine
Encyclopedia
The Catonsville Nine were nine Catholic
activists who burned draft
files to protest the Vietnam War
. On May 17, 1968 they went to the draft board
in Catonsville, Maryland
, took 378 draft files, brought them to the parking lot in wire baskets, dumped them out, poured homemade napalm
over them, and set them on fire. There exists news footage of this action, shot by Baltimore
's WBAL-TV
.
Fr. Philip Berrigan and Tom Lewis had previously poured blood on draft records as part of "The Baltimore Four" (with David Eberhardt and James Mengel) and were out on bail when they burned the records at Catonsville. The first documented action against draft files is reputed to have been by Barry Bondhus in Minnesota, who, along with other family members, carried human waste
into a draft board and defaced draft records.
The Catonsville Nine were tried in federal court October 5–9, 1968. The lead defense attorney was William Kunstler
. They were found guilty of destruction of U.S. property, destruction of Selective Service files, and interference with the Selective Service Act
of 1967. They were also sentenced to a total of 18 years jail time and a fine of $22,000. Several of the nine--Mary Moylan, Phil Berrigan, Dan Berrigan and George Mische--went "underground" when it came time to show up for prison--in other words, the FBI
had to try to find them. Father Dan Berrigan caused considerable embarrassment to FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover
by popping up and giving sermons and then fading back into the "underground".
Fr. Daniel Berrigan wrote, of the Catonsville incident: "Our apologies, good friends, for the fracture of good order, the burning of paper instead of children..." The whole of his statement is in The Trial of the Catonsville Nine.
Large demonstrations occurred outside the Federal Courthouse on Calvert St.
during the trial. The trial came soon after the events of the 1968 Democratic National Convention
in Chicago where considerable violence took place. The Nine's trial, with religious people involved, made the overall peace movement a bit harder to dismiss since protesters in Chicago consisted of younger, student and SDS
, Weather Underground, and youths with long hair.
Both the judge, Roszel C. Thomsen, and the prosecutor, Stephen H. Sachs
, realized the historic proportions of the event but allowed little leeway to the defendants arguments. In these early trials of such actions the government always overcharged and always tried to keep the trials to "nothing but the facts," i.e., did the Nine destroy files or did they not? The Nine, on the other hand, often referred to a higher law that they were following--God's moral law--as well as such precedents as the Nuremberg war crimes trials after World War II. They called several expert witnesses. At one point, prosecutor Sachs quipped that "the government is not a balloon attached to the consciences of the Nine."
Numerous reunions have occurred with participants including jurors, the prosecutor Steve Sachs (who later ran for Governor of Maryland) and members of the Nine.
The "Nine", as well as the 4, inspired many other anti draft and anti military actions in the 60's and 70's, some publicized, others not--actions such as the Milwaukee 14, DC 9, Chicago 8
, Harrisburg 7, Camden 28, etc. The action in Camden was portrayed in a documentary that appeared on Public Television. There were actions where participants remained at the scene to be arrested as well as those where the participants departed in order to avoid arrest. It is unknown how many persons were not drafted because of these actions, although some few stories have surfaced.
Beginning in 1980 with the Plowshares 8, the movement morphed into a movement
that continues today (2009) with an emphasis on nuclear weapons. These actions,called "Plowshares" actions, along with the Catonsville Nine and other earlier actions, have been portrayed in numerous films, books, etc. Jonah House
, in Baltimore, Md., maintains a website that updates these actions: A Chronology of Plowshares Disarmament Actions -1980-2003- has been edited and compiled by Arthur Laffin.
, The Trial of the Catonsville Nine, about the trial. The version performed is usually an adaptation into regular dialogue by Saul Levitt. The play is but a partial transcript of the trial.
In 1972 a film version of the play was produced by Gregory Peck
. The play, as of 2009, is on tour presented by the "Actors' Gang" of Culver City Calif., founded by film star Tim Robbins
, but has been presented innumerable times as well.
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
activists who burned draft
Conscription
Conscription is the compulsory enlistment of people in some sort of national service, most often military service. Conscription dates back to antiquity and continues in some countries to the present day under various names...
files to protest the Vietnam War
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
. On May 17, 1968 they went to the draft board
Draft board
Draft Board was a part of the Selective Service Act which registered and selected men of military age for conscription in the United States-Local Board:...
in Catonsville, Maryland
Catonsville, Maryland
According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of , all of it land.-Demographics:In 2010 Catonsville had a population of 41,567...
, took 378 draft files, brought them to the parking lot in wire baskets, dumped them out, poured homemade napalm
Napalm
Napalm is a thickening/gelling agent generally mixed with gasoline or a similar fuel for use in an incendiary device, primarily as an anti-personnel weapon...
over them, and set them on fire. There exists news footage of this action, shot by Baltimore
Baltimore
Baltimore is the largest independent city in the United States and the largest city and cultural center of the US state of Maryland. The city is located in central Maryland along the tidal portion of the Patapsco River, an arm of the Chesapeake Bay. Baltimore is sometimes referred to as Baltimore...
's WBAL-TV
WBAL-TV
WBAL-TV is the NBC-affiliated television station in Baltimore, Maryland. It broadcasts a high definition digital signal on VHF channel 11. It is one of the flagship stations of Hearst Television, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Hearst Corporation, which also owns sister radio stations WBAL and...
.
List of the Nine
The Nine were:- Father Daniel BerriganDaniel BerriganDaniel Berrigan, SJ is an American Catholic priest, peace activist, and poet. Daniel and his brother Philip were for a time on the FBI Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list for their involvement in antiwar protests during the Vietnam war....
, a Jesuit priest - Philip BerriganPhilip BerriganPhilip Francis Berrigan was an internationally renowned American peace activist, Christian anarchist and former Roman Catholic priest...
, a former JosephiteJosephite FathersThe Josephite Fathers and Brothers or, more properly, Saint Joseph's Society of the Sacred Heart, Inc. are a society of Catholic priests and brothers, based in the United States. It was formed in 1871 by a group of priests from the English Foreign Mission Society of Saint Joseph, also known as...
priest (deceased) - Bro. David Darst (deceased)
- John Hogan (deceased)
- Tom LewisThomas Lewis (peace activist)Thomas Lewis was an artist, peace activist, and a father.Thomas Lewis was born on March 17, 1940, in Baltimore, Maryland, In the late 60s, he was involved in such "actions" as the Baltimore Four, who poured blood on draft files at the Baltimore Customs House in 1967, and Catonsville Nine, who...
, an artist (deceased) - Marjorie Bradford Melville
- Thomas Melville, a former MaryknollMaryknollMaryknoll is a name shared by three organizations that are part of the Roman Catholic Church and whose joint focus is on the overseas mission activity of the Catholic Church in the United States...
priest - George Mische
- Mary Moylan (deceased).
History
George Mische and Father Phil Berrigan were prime organizers of the Catonsville Nine. Numerous Baltimore community members assisted in key ways as well. The organizing process was very democratic, with interminable meetings and who's in, who's out hand raisings.Fr. Philip Berrigan and Tom Lewis had previously poured blood on draft records as part of "The Baltimore Four" (with David Eberhardt and James Mengel) and were out on bail when they burned the records at Catonsville. The first documented action against draft files is reputed to have been by Barry Bondhus in Minnesota, who, along with other family members, carried human waste
Human waste
Human waste is a waste type usually used to refer to byproducts of digestion, such as feces and urine. Human waste is most often transported as sewage in waste water through sewerage systems...
into a draft board and defaced draft records.
The Catonsville Nine were tried in federal court October 5–9, 1968. The lead defense attorney was William Kunstler
William Kunstler
William Moses Kunstler was an American self-described "radical lawyer" and civil rights activist, known for his controversial clients...
. They were found guilty of destruction of U.S. property, destruction of Selective Service files, and interference with the Selective Service Act
Selective Service Act
Selective Service Act may refer to:* Selective Service Act of 1917, or Selective Draft Act, which was passed by the Congress of the United States on May 18, 1917. It was for men to go to WWI at a young age....
of 1967. They were also sentenced to a total of 18 years jail time and a fine of $22,000. Several of the nine--Mary Moylan, Phil Berrigan, Dan Berrigan and George Mische--went "underground" when it came time to show up for prison--in other words, the FBI
Federal Bureau of Investigation
The Federal Bureau of Investigation is an agency of the United States Department of Justice that serves as both a federal criminal investigative body and an internal intelligence agency . The FBI has investigative jurisdiction over violations of more than 200 categories of federal crime...
had to try to find them. Father Dan Berrigan caused considerable embarrassment to FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover
J. Edgar Hoover
John Edgar Hoover was the first Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation of the United States. Appointed director of the Bureau of Investigation—predecessor to the FBI—in 1924, he was instrumental in founding the FBI in 1935, where he remained director until his death in 1972...
by popping up and giving sermons and then fading back into the "underground".
Fr. Daniel Berrigan wrote, of the Catonsville incident: "Our apologies, good friends, for the fracture of good order, the burning of paper instead of children..." The whole of his statement is in The Trial of the Catonsville Nine.
Large demonstrations occurred outside the Federal Courthouse on Calvert St.
St. Paul Street-Calvert Street
St. Paul Street and Calvert Street are a one-way pair of streets in Downtown Baltimore and areas north. The streets, which are part of Maryland Route 2, are two of Baltimore's best-known streets in the downtown area.-St. Paul Street:...
during the trial. The trial came soon after the events of the 1968 Democratic National Convention
1968 Democratic National Convention
The 1968 Democratic National Convention of the U.S. Democratic Party was held at the International Amphitheatre in Chicago, Illinois, from August 26 to August 29, 1968. Because Democratic President Lyndon Johnson had announced he would not seek a second term, the purpose of the convention was to...
in Chicago where considerable violence took place. The Nine's trial, with religious people involved, made the overall peace movement a bit harder to dismiss since protesters in Chicago consisted of younger, student and SDS
Students for a Democratic Society
Students for a Democratic Society was a student activist movement in the United States that was one of the main iconic representations of the country's New Left. The organization developed and expanded rapidly in the mid-1960s before dissolving at its last convention in 1969...
, Weather Underground, and youths with long hair.
Both the judge, Roszel C. Thomsen, and the prosecutor, Stephen H. Sachs
Stephen H. Sachs
Stephen H. Sachs is a former Maryland politician and former Attorney General of Maryland.- Background :Sachs was born in Baltimore City, the son of Shirley and Leon Sachs. He is Jewish. Sachs was educated at Haverford College and Yale Law School...
, realized the historic proportions of the event but allowed little leeway to the defendants arguments. In these early trials of such actions the government always overcharged and always tried to keep the trials to "nothing but the facts," i.e., did the Nine destroy files or did they not? The Nine, on the other hand, often referred to a higher law that they were following--God's moral law--as well as such precedents as the Nuremberg war crimes trials after World War II. They called several expert witnesses. At one point, prosecutor Sachs quipped that "the government is not a balloon attached to the consciences of the Nine."
Aftermath
Fr. Daniel Berrigan was convicted and sentenced to prison to begin on April 9, 1970. According to Anke Wessels, director of Cornell's Center for Religion, Ethics, and Social Policy, "On the very day he was scheduled to begin his prison term, he left his office keys on a secretary's desk in Anabel Taylor Hall and disappeared." Cornell celebrated Berrigan's impending imprisonment by conducting a weekend-long "America Is Hard to Find" event on April 17 - 19, 1970, which included a public appearance by the then-fugitive Berrigan before a crowd of 15,000 in Barton Hall. On August 11, 1970, the FBI found and arrested Berrigan. He was released from prison in 1972.Numerous reunions have occurred with participants including jurors, the prosecutor Steve Sachs (who later ran for Governor of Maryland) and members of the Nine.
The "Nine", as well as the 4, inspired many other anti draft and anti military actions in the 60's and 70's, some publicized, others not--actions such as the Milwaukee 14, DC 9, Chicago 8
Chicago Seven
The Chicago Seven were seven defendants—Abbie Hoffman, Jerry Rubin, David Dellinger, Tom Hayden, Rennie Davis, John Froines, and Lee Weiner—charged with conspiracy, inciting to riot, and other charges related to protests that took place in Chicago, Illinois on the occasion of the 1968...
, Harrisburg 7, Camden 28, etc. The action in Camden was portrayed in a documentary that appeared on Public Television. There were actions where participants remained at the scene to be arrested as well as those where the participants departed in order to avoid arrest. It is unknown how many persons were not drafted because of these actions, although some few stories have surfaced.
Beginning in 1980 with the Plowshares 8, the movement morphed into a movement
Plowshares Movement
The Plowshares Movement is an anti-nuclear weapons movement that gained notoriety in the early 1980s when several members damaged government property and were subsequently convicted.-History:...
that continues today (2009) with an emphasis on nuclear weapons. These actions,called "Plowshares" actions, along with the Catonsville Nine and other earlier actions, have been portrayed in numerous films, books, etc. Jonah House
Jonah House
Jonah House is a faith-based community centered around the concept of "Nonviolence, resistance and community". Founded in 1973 by a group that included Philip Berrigan, a Catholic priest, and Elizabeth McAlister, formerly a Catholic nun, Jonah House has grown to be situated on a area of land in...
, in Baltimore, Md., maintains a website that updates these actions: A Chronology of Plowshares Disarmament Actions -1980-2003- has been edited and compiled by Arthur Laffin.
"The Trial of the Catonsville Nine" (play)
Fr. Daniel Berrigan wrote a play in free verseFree verse
Free verse is a form of poetry that refrains from consistent meter patterns, rhyme, or any other musical pattern.Poets have explained that free verse, despite its freedom, is not free. Free Verse displays some elements of form...
, The Trial of the Catonsville Nine, about the trial. The version performed is usually an adaptation into regular dialogue by Saul Levitt. The play is but a partial transcript of the trial.
In 1972 a film version of the play was produced by Gregory Peck
Gregory Peck
Eldred Gregory Peck was an American actor.One of 20th Century Fox's most popular film stars from the 1940s to the 1960s, Peck continued to play important roles well into the 1980s. His notable performances include that of Atticus Finch in the 1962 film To Kill a Mockingbird, for which he won an...
. The play, as of 2009, is on tour presented by the "Actors' Gang" of Culver City Calif., founded by film star Tim Robbins
Tim Robbins
Timothy Francis "Tim" Robbins is an American actor, screenwriter, director, producer, activist and musician. He is the former longtime partner of actress Susan Sarandon...
, but has been presented innumerable times as well.