Report of Sept. 20, 2022 AFA Arms Bazaar Witness

“Why are deadly weapons being sold to those who plan to inflict untold suffering on individuals and society? Sadly, the answer, as we all know, is simply for money: money that is drenched in blood, often innocent blood. In the face of this shameful and culpable silence, it is our duty to confront the problem and to stop the arms trade.”                                                                                                                                                                 –Pope Francis, September 24, 2015 Speech to the U.S. Congress

Dear Friends,

On this eve of the International Day of Peace, and in solidarity with all who are participating in the coming days in Campaign Nonviolence (see: https://paceebene.org/action-days) and the Catholic Days of Action (see: https://nonviolencejustpeace.net/days-of-action/), Mike Walli, Bob Cooke, Jack McHale, Scott Wright and I vigiled today from Noon-1:15 PM outside the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center in National Harbor, MD which is once again hosting the annual Air Force Association (AFA) “Air-Space-Cyber Conference and Technology Exposition,” what we call an “Arms Bazaar.” This Arms Bazaar is an affront to God and endangers the entire human family and all of creation! See: https://www.afa.org/2022-air-space-cyber-agenda. 

During our witness we were present to both weapons contractors and military attending the Arms Bazaar who were on their lunch break. As we held banners and signs, our witness included a reading of the Beatitudes from Luke’s Gospel and an excerpt from Dr. King’s Beyond Vietnam Speech (April 4, 1967), offering a “Prayer of Exorcism and Conversion” and a Reflection and Response (see below), and a recitation of the CPT Litany of Resistance and Pax Christi Litany of Repentance and Conversion. We also sang several songs beginning with “Down by the Riverside” and ending with “Vine and Fig Tree.”   

In these perilous times, let us live in the hope that Jesus offers: “All things are possible for the one who has faith.” (Mk. 9:23) We beckon the holy cloud of witnesses and all peace and justice makers who have gone home to God and who are now advocating for us. Hope abounds in the actions of countless people worldwide who are seeking to make God’s reign of justice, love and peace a reality. Let us redouble our efforts to do all we can to nonviolently resist the forces and systems of violence, racism, oppression and death and witness to the God of Life and Love as we strive to create the Beloved Community.

In peace and hope,

Art

REFLECTION AND RESPONSE

From September 19-21, the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center is once again playing host to the Air Force Association (AFA) “Air-Space-Cyber Conference and Technology Exposition,” what we call an “Arms Bazaar.” The AFA, according to its web site, is “the voice for aerospace power and the Air Force family.” This year’s theme is: “AMERICA’S AIR & SPACE FORCES – YESTERDAY, TODAY AND TOMORROW (75 YEARS IN THE DEFENSE OF OUR NATION).”

Response: God Commands Us Not to Kill and To Beat Swords into Plowshares! Stop the AFA Arms Bazaar! Disarm Now!

Over 150 exhibitors taking part in this year’s Arms Bazaar have played a prominent role in U.S. warmaking. Weapons contractors like Lockheed Martin, Boeing, General Dynamics, Northrop Grumman, Raytheon and BAE, are profiting from war and literally are making a killing! But that’s not all. The Pentagon and numerous arms dealers are committed to U.S. nuclear/military/cyber superiority and militarizing and controlling space. 

Response: God Commands Us Not to Kill and To Beat Swords into Plowshares! Stop the AFA Arms Bazaar! Disarm Now!

During its three-day Arms Bazaar, the AFA will hold forums addressing how the U.S. can refine its warmaking apparatus and cyber capability so it can dominate earth and space. Here are titles for some of the forums:  “Long-Range Strike: Fielding Tomorrow’s Bomber,” “Air and Space Warriors Now and Tomorrow,” “The Reality of Space as a Warfighting Domain,” and “Electromagnetic Warfare.” Additionally, two gala banquets are being held. We decry the AFA Arms Bazaar for what it is: a scandalous affront to God, a theft from the poor, and a threat to people and the environment worldwide! 

Response: God Commands Us Not to Kill and To Beat Swords into Plowshares! Stop the AFA Arms Bazaar! Disarm Now!

The victims cry out for justice, and the earth, under daily assault, groans in travail! Who will speak for the poor and the victims, as arms dealers reap huge profits from their lethal weapons and death technology? Who will protect our sacred earth and environment and work to avert global catastrophe?                                                                                  Response: God Commands Us Not to Kill and To Beat Swords into Plowshares! Stop the AFA Arms Bazaar! Disarm Now!

In light of the proposed $813 billion 2023 U.S. military budget, who will help to convert the U.S. war economy to meet critical human needs? We need, more than ever, to nonviolently resist and work to eradicate what Dr. King called the interrelated triple evils of racism, poverty/economic exploitation, and militarism/war.                                                                  Response: God Commands Us Not to Kill and To Beat Swords into Plowshares! Stop the AFA Arms Bazaar! Disarm Now!

Together, on this eve of the International Day of Peace, and in solidarity with Campaign Nonviolence, Catholic Days of Action and sisters and brothers in the U.S. and worldwide who are acting for peace, justice and nonviolent social transformation, we of the Dorothy Day Catholic Worker, Pax Christi and other peace groups call on all people of faith and goodwill to demand that the U.S. government:                                                                          –renounce all systems of domination and oppression, rooted in white supremacy, which are reinforced by the murderous weapons displayed at the AFA Arms Bazaar;                             –end military aid and weapons sales to all nations of the world, including to Israel used to support its illegal occupation of West Bank and Gaza, to Saudi Arabia used to support its 7-year illegal war in Yemen, and to Morocco used to support the illegal occupation of Western Sahara;                                                                                                                                      –-make reparations to Iraq, Afghanistan and all other nations where the U.S. militarily intervened and occupied which has resulted in the death, suffering and displacement of  millions of people, immeasurable trauma for entire societies and political and social instability;                                                                                                                                  –close its over 800 military bases worldwide, end NATO and AFRICOM, and stop all forms of military intervention throughout the world;                                                                            –stop the deployment of U.S. and NATO missile defense systems ringing Russia and China which is increasing already heightened tensions;                                                                    –heed Pope Francis’ plea that the possession of nuclear weapons is immoral and abolish all nuclear weapons now;                                                                                                          –ratify the UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) as 66 nations already have which now makes nuclear weapons illegal under international law;                                –redirect exorbitant military expenditures, including the estimated $1.7 trillion over the next several decades to modernize the U.S. nuclear arsenal, to meet urgent human needs and safeguard the environment;                                                                                                      –create an economic and political order committed to placing people before profit, serving the common good, dismantling racism, promoting equality and restorative justice, abolishing war and all weapons, and upholding the dignity and human rights of every person.                                                                                                                      Response: God Commands Us Not to Kill and To Beat Swords into Plowshares! Stop the AFA Arms Bazaar! Disarm Now!

Let us continue to do all we can to establish the Beloved Community, end the climate crisis and create a world free of nuclear and conventional weapons, killer drones, war and oppression where the needs of ALL the poor are met. In the name of God, who commands us to love and not to kill and to beat all the swords of our time into plowshares, in the name of Jesus, who calls us to be peacemakers and people of total nonviolence, it’s time to end the AFA Arms Bazaar!  

Resist the Air Force Association “Arms Bazaar”

When: Tuesday, September 20, 2022, from 12 Noon – 1:30 p.m. 

What: A Nonviolent Vigil and Prayer Service for Peace and Justice during the annual AFA Air-Space-Cyber Conference and Technology Exposition, what we call an “Arms Bazaar.” This witness is being held on the eve of the International Day of Peace (https://www.un.org/en/observances/international-day-peace) and in solidarity with Campaign Nonviolence (https://paceebene.org/action-days)  and Catholic Day of Actions (https://nonviolencejustpeace.net/days-of-action/). 

For more info about the AFA Arms Bazaar see: https://www.afa.org/2022-air-space-cyber-agenda

Where: Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center, 201 Waterfront St., National Harbor, MD 20745. We will meet for the vigil at the corner of Waterfront St. and St. George Blvd., directly across from the Gaylord National Resort.

Sponsored by the Dorothy Day Catholic Worker

For more info contact: Art Laffin – 202-360-6416,  artlaffin@hotmail.com

“Why are deadly weapons being sold to those who plan to inflict untold suffering on individuals and society? Sadly, the answer, as we all know, is simply for money: money that is drenched in blood, often innocent blood. In the face of this shameful and culpable silence, it is our duty to confront the problem and to stop thearmstrade.”                                                                                                                                 –Pope Francis, September 24, 2015 Speech to the U.S. Congress

Dear Friends, 

From September 19-21, the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center is once again playing host to the Air Force Association (AFA) “Air-Space-Cyber Conference and Technology Exposition,” what we call an “Arms Bazaar.” The AFA is “the voice for aerospace power and the Air Force family.” The theme for this year’s Arms Bazaar is: “AMERICA’S AIR & SPACE FORCES – YESTERDAY, TODAY AND TOMORROW (75 YEARS IN THE DEFENSE OF OUR NATION).”

Last year, according to the AFA web site, “more than 12,500 registrants were treated to three days of informative speaker sessions and more than 150 exhibitor booths at the AFA’s 2021 Air, Space & Cyber Conference.” 

(https://www.afa.org/asc22-exhibitors-and-partners. 

Exhibitors taking part in this year’s Arms Bazaar play a prominent role in U.S. warmaking and global military intervention. Weapons contractors like Lockheed Martin, Boeing, General Dynamics, Northrop Grumman, Raytheon and BAE, are profiting from war and literally are making a killing! But that’s not all. The Pentagon in concert with numerous arms dealers are committed to U.S. nuclear/military/cyber superiority and militarizing and controlling space.

During its three-day Arms Bazaar, the AFA will hold forums addressing how the U.S. can refine its war making apparatus and cyber capability so it can dominate earth and space (https://www.afa.org/2022-air-space-cyber-agenda).

Here are titles for some of the forums:  “Long-Range Strike: Fielding Tomorrow’s Bomber,” “Air and Space Warriors Now and Tomorrow,” “The Reality of Space as a Warfighting Domain,” and “Electromagnetic Warfare.” Additionally, there will be two gala banquets. 

We decry the AFA Arms Bazaar for what it is: a scandalous affront to God, a theft from the poor, and a threat to people and the environment throughout the world!

On January 20 of this year, the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists “Doomsday Clock” was set to 100 seconds before midnight due to the existential dangers of nuclear war and climate change — threats compounded by cyber-enabled information warfare, upgrades to existing nuclear systems, and worsening world tensions. This determination occurred just prior to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Now this conflict has further exacerbated the nuclear peril between the two foremost nuclear powers.

The victims cry out for justice, and the earth, under daily assault, groans in travail! Who will speak for the poor and the victims, as arms dealers reap huge profits from their lethal weapons and death technology? Who will protect our sacred earth and environment and work to avert global catastrophe? In light of the proposed $813 billion 2023 U.S. military budget, who will help to convert the U.S. war economy to meet urgent human needs? We need, more than ever, to nonviolently resist and work to eradicate what Dr. King called the interrelated triple evils of racism, poverty/economic exploitation, and militarism/war. 

Together, in solidarity with sisters and brothers in the U.S. and worldwide, we appeal to all people of faith and goodwill to call on the U.S. to:

–renounce all systems of domination and oppression, rooted in white supremacy, which are reinforced by the murderous weapons displayed at the AFA Arms Bazaar;

–end military aid and weapons sales to all nations of the world, including to Israel used to support its illegal occupation of West Bank and Gaza, to Saudi Arabia used to support its 7-year illegal war in Yemen, and to Morocco used to support the illegal occupation of Western Sahara;

–close its over 800 military bases worldwide, end NATO and AFRICOM, and stop all forms of military intervention throughout the world;

–stop the deployment of U.S. and NATO missile defense systems ringing Russia and China which is increasing already heightened tensions; 

–heed Pope Francis’ plea that the possession of nuclear weapons is immoral and abolish all nuclear weapons now;  

–ratify the UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) which now makes nuclear weapons illegal under international law; 

–redirect exorbitant military expenditures, including the estimated $1.7 trillion over the next several decades to modernize the U.S. nuclear arsenal, to meet urgent human needs and safeguard the environment;

–create and economic and political order committed to placing people before profit, serving the common good, dismantling racism, promoting equality and restorative justice, and upholding the human rights and dignity of every person. 

Let us continue to do all we can to establish the Beloved Community, end the climate crisis and create a world free of nuclear and conventional weapons, killer drones and war. In the name of God, who commands us to love and not to kill and to beat all the swords of our time into plowshares, in the name of Jesus, who calls us to be peacemakers and people of total nonviolence, it’s time to end the AFA Arms Bazaar and establish a disarmed world!  

Please join with members of the Dorothy Day Catholic Worker, Pax Christi and other peacemakers as we seek to say YES to Life and a resounding NO to the merchants of death and war profiteers. 

Please share this with your contacts and network.

With gratitude, 

Art Laffin

Directions to Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center

Directions from Downtown D.C., Parking and Meeting Place
Take 395 South (off of New York Ave. or Constitution Ave. at 9th St. NW) Merge onto 295 South via exit on left (crossing into Maryland) – 7.4 miles. Take the exit toward National Harbor. Take ramp to National Harbor Blvd. Bear left on National Harbor Blvd. and go two blocks to St. George Blvd. Make a right on St. George Blvd. Go to one block before Waterfront St. and look for street meter parking. Also St. George Parking Garage is on right in case you can’t find street parking (just past the cross street called Mariner Passage). The garage is one block before Waterfront St., where the Gaylord National Resort is located. We will meet for the vigil at the corner of Waterfront St. and St. George Blvd. directly across from the Gaylord National Resort. If you are coming from Maryland or Virginia use Map Quest for the most precise route to the Gaylord. 
For public transportation

 go to https://www.wmata.com/ and click on TRIP PLANNER.