Word: lilco
(lookup in dictionary)
(lookup stats)
Dates: during 1979-1979
Sort By: most recent first
(reverse)
Demonstrators had visited the $1.5 billion plant, which the Long Island Lighting Co. (LILCO) plans to open in December 1981, before. In 1978, 40 were arrested in a similar, but much smaller, occupation attempt. At the time, the organizers--the SHAD (Sound/Hudson Against Atomic Development) Alliance--had informed police of the details beforehand, where and when protestors would go over the fence. But SHAD modified its tactics, trying to preserve some element of surprise, and Suffolk County police did not find out about plans for the occupation until a deputy commissioner picked up a leaflet when he went...
...After joining "affinity groups" of 10 to 20 people, all participants in the occupation attempt had received eight-hour training sessions in civil disobedience, with an emphasis on getting the point of the protest across without provoking police. There were strict groundrules: no alcohol, no drugs; no destruction of LILCO property, and above all, no running--that might cause panic...
Estimates for the number of occupiers ranged from a few hundred to 1000. No one knew quite what to expect. Ira L. Freilicher, a LILCO vice-president, set the tone at a 10 a.m. press conference; if they don't leave, they'll be arrested-we've got a plant to build here and we don't plan to remain occupied." But, he added, "we don't want to see people hurt and we don't intend to get physical if they...
Security was tight. If you didn't have one of the laminated photo-identity badges distributed by LILCO, police arrested you (two reporters were taken into custody after their badges were misplaced). Police later said they had received a report that a sniper was planning to hide at the site and pick off protesters. He never showed...
Violence erupted only once, when a group of about ten teenagers stormed the plant's main gate and attempted to enter the grounds by force. When LILCO employees attempted to close the gate they pulled at the metal fence and began throwing rocks and bottles over...