20 Years Later, Nuke Protesters Do It Again

Antinuclear activists who led a massive demonstration against the Seabrook nuclear plant 20 years ago returned Saturday to take a new generation of protesters over the fence into the waiting arms of police.

Several hundred demonstrators chanted “Seabrook has got to go” as some in their ranks used wooden ladders to scale the plant gate after a rally to remember the first demonstration on April 30, 1977.

Fifty people were arrested on criminal trespassing charges and told to appear in court June 2. Willow Mauck, the 11-year-old daughter of protest organizer Chip Mauck, and another minor were among those taken away by bus.

“It’s always a good thing when you stand up to a corrupt system,” said Guy Chichester, 63, who led this and the original protest.

Chichester, Paul Gunter, Renny Cushing and Kristie Conrad, all founders of the Clamshell Alliance, led the charge as they did in 1977, when 2,000 demonstrators crossed onto the site while the plant was under construction.

The demonstration led to 1,414 arrests, the largest mass arrest in U.S. history at the time.

Seabrook spokesman Brendan DuBois said Saturday’s demonstration was held about two miles from the plant building and did not interrupt plant operations.

About two dozen police officers waited inside the fence to take arrested demonstrators to jail. The protesters didn’t resist.

The arrests didn’t mar what Gunter called a happy reunion.

“You don’t forget those people ever. It’s such a gift to be sharing this time with them again--as gray as they are,” he said.