The State - News from July 20, 1988

The case against 30 people arrested during a protest at the Concord Naval Weapons Station where one demonstrator was struck by a train and lost his lower legs has gone to a jury. The case involves 11 defendants who are representative of the group of 30 who have been charged. In an unusual arrangement, the other 19 defendants agreed to be bound by the verdict. The defendants attempted to block munitions trains that they said were carrying weapons to Navy ships for transport to Central America. They were accused of the misdemeanor offense of obstructing movement of people on a public thoroughfare. Mt. Diablo Municipal Judge Douglas Cunningham has ruled that the defendants could not justify their actions by attempting to prove that U.S. weapons were being used during the commission of war crimes. Brian Willson, 47, was hit by a train last September and lost his lower legs. Willson, who is not a defendant, was present as a spectator.