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Mohaib PsuimarVDaUy NabrHkan
Mttrchlflg against the
- in— ---1
ampened Nebraska roads
lot die spirits of the eight
le walking along them to
Strategic Air Command in Bellevue.
The walkers left the Unitarian
Church at 63rd and A streets June 18
to trek through summer sun, heat and
wind, about 55 miles to SAC. The
trip, called “SAC Trek IV,” culmi
nated Saturday with a disarmament
protest of about 30 demonstrators at
SAC’s west gate.
The daily walks began around 10
or 11 a m. and lasted until 4 or 5 p.m.,
depending on the distance between
campsites. Lunch was a picnic under
a shade tree at about noon. The walk
ers camped in Eagle; Grandpa’s
Woods, which is a campsite near
Elmwood; Louisville and Plattsmoulh
before reaching Bellevue on Satur
day afternoon. Rain kept the trekkers
from camping in Louisville and walk
ing Wednesday and Thursday, so they
stayed in Lincoln and drove to
Plattsmoulh on Friday.
(Along the way, the walkers talked
about money, music, relationships and
when they would reach the next town.
They waved to people in passing cais,
( who sometimes waved or honked back.
I A relief car carrying their camping
gear slopped about every two miles
with Water, sunscreen and a chance
for a couple of trekkers to rest while
they drove up the road for another rest
stop. People joined or left the walkers
daily because of illness, jobs or classes.
This trek was much smaller than
past trips, but size doesn’t matter a
great deal, according to Nell Ecker
sley, one of the trek’s organizers. A
smaller group is more cohesive, she
said, and lets everyone get to know
each other better.
The biggest drawback to the trip
was the unpleasant weather, Ecker
sley said. The cancellation of the
Louisville camp-out hurt morale, she
said, and the trip was “not as spe
cial” as past treks when the group
spent the enure week camping. But
she said she thought the trek was a
success and that “some minds were
changed” by the demonstration at
SAC.
One of the walkers, Camilla Eck
ersley, agreed that the rain bogged
down the trek, but she said the trip
“feels more like a march” with a
larger group. She has helped plan
SAC Trek for the past four years and
belonged to Youth for Nuclear Freeze,
which sponsored the trip the first three
years. This year, UNL’s Early Warn
ing! and the Omaha group Youth for
Peace sponsored the event.
The demonstrators ran into a snag
Saturday when they found out they
needed a permit to protest in Bellevue.
Rather than risk arrest, they moved
the demonstration to the SAC en
trance on highway 75, beyond city
limits and out of the police depart
ment’s jurisdiction. Five people were
arrested by military police for cross
ing over the line at the entrance.
Being arrested was a "direct ac
tion” to show support for disarma
ment, Nell Eckerslcy said. She said
she and the other four arrested were
fingerprinted, photographed and given
“ban and bar” letters, which prevent
them from visiting a military base
without permission for 90 days. The
arrest will not appear on a police
record, she said.
Passing drivers gave demonstra
tors the “thumbs-up,” or called them
“communists” or “traitors.” One
driver, who was watching the protest
ers instead of Ihc road, slammed into
the back end of a stopped car.
Overall, the protest created a bet
ter understanding of disarmament and
anti-nuclear issues, Nell Eckerslcy
said. ,,
“We’re doing as much as we can,
she said.
I Story and Photos
by Michelle Paulman
Clockwise from center:
Five demonstrators hold hands
while hearing the penalty for
crossing the white line at SAC.
Protestors display their signs
to Highway 75 traffic in front of
SAC.
Alex Thomas gives Michelle Allen
a hug of encouragement before
going up to the SAC entrance.
Military police wait in formation
while tne protesters explain their
reasons for demonstrating.
Michelle Allen, a Bellevue East
senior, burns a SAC flag out
side the base.
Trekkers en route to Eagle stop
for lunch Monday under a pine
tree.
A gust of wind from a passing
semi truck on highway 34 forces
Emo Sybert to hole onto her
hat.
