14 arrested during protest at future site of nuclear weapon parts plant

KANSAS CITY, Missouri - Police arrested about 14 protesters Monday morning at the future site of a plant that will make parts of nuclear bombs.

About 50 more marchers withdrew when police ordered them to leave.

The construction site at Highway 150 and Botts Road will replace the Honeywell managed Kansas City Plant at the Bannister Federal Complex.

Work was stopped for about two hours by the protesting, but had resumed by noon Monday.

Protesters cheered their comrades as prisoner transport fans hauled them away.

Initially about 70 anti-nuclear protesters surrounded construction equipment and set up a banner saying stop building for nuclear war.

“This is your last warning,” responding officers said on a squad car bull horn. “If you don't leave the property you will be arrested.”

As Kansas City police moved in additional units. most of the protesters withdrew to just off the property line.

Others stayed behind until they were handcuffed and taken away.

They were trying to bring attention to the city of Kansas City's investment in the bomb part making plant and to the one billion dollar cost of the lease arrangement.

Some brought attention to the plight of sick workers at the current Honeywell facility at the Bannister Federal Complex.

“The reason we're here is because of the sick workers,” said Maurice Copeland, a former Honeywell worker. “What it takes to make nuclear weapons. What it takes to make nuclear weapons is to contaminate your city and contaminate the people that do the work.”

“We fear for the people who are going to work out here,” said anti-nuclear protester Jane Stoever. “We're trying to do our best to alert Kansas Citians, making parts for nuclear weapons exposes you to depleted uranium.”

An NBC Action News investigation has identified about 370 sick current and former workers at the plant and in nearby offices at Bannister.