PORT TOWNSEND — Liz Rivera Goldstein, a 49-year-old Port Townsend mother of two, is prepared to be arrested Saturday in the name of peace. After all, she is the primary organizer of the events planned before and after a nonviolent protest at the entrance to Naval Magazine Indian Island.
The protest is expected to draw anti-war activists statewide.
Naval Magazine Indian Island was chosen because of the role it plays in storing weapons shipped to Iraq and around the world, local peace activists said.
The Navy recently spent more than $1 million to upgrade the Naval Magazine’s munitions pier to prepare for docking Ohio class nuclear submarines.
Such submarines carry Tomahawk cruise missiles, which Navy officials said could be off-loaded when a sub is docked there.
“I decided that instead of getting arrested in front of the White House that I would do something in my own state,” Goldstein said.
She may be joined at the gates to the Naval weapons storage base by her husband, Dan, a Vietnam War conscientious objector, and her 19-year-old son, Rob.
Her son was arrested with his mother last month during a nonviolent action at the entrance to Naval Base Kitsap-Bangor.
“We are trying to make it fairly family friendly and secure,” said Goldstein, who secured county permits to use H.J. Carroll Park and the county park across from the entrance to Naval Magazine Indian Island for a staging ground.
Her hope is that the event will enlighten those who attend, whether they take part in the resistance action at the Naval Magazine or not.
“It’s safe for people to be there and they won’t be arrested, unless it’s their intention to do so,” she said.
“I think it’s going to be a powerful day.”
