LPF members live out their faith in ways that challenge societal practices about violence and defense. Earlier this year, outgoing LPF Board member Bruce Radtke traveled to Creech Air Force Base in Nevada to protest the United States’ use of weaponized drones. Blood was painted on the protestors’ hands as a symbol of culpability in the violence caused by drones. “When I read about or see photos of victims killed or injured by weaponized drones, I cringe,” Radtke writes. “Since so many of these victims are innocent civilians in several nations, I look for ways to denounce our government for its actions.” For five days, Radtke joined a group of activists holding banners and signs outside this military installation. He shared some reasons for his participation:
1) to help those entering the base to see that their efforts result in undeserved death for many;
2) to get some publicity, at least locally, for peace activism;
3) to abandon my passive stance about the destruction of innocent lives, by actively protesting killer drones.
In the spirit of working to stop the use of drones, here is a link to an educational opportunity in September at Princeton Theological Seminary with the Interfaith Network on Drone Warfare.