Berrigan Brothers
The Berrigan Brothers, Daniel and Philip, were prominent figures in the anti-Vietnam War movement, particularly within the "New Catholic Left." They gained national attention for their nonviolent protests against U.S. government policies during the 1960s and 70s, notably for actions such as pouring blood on draft board records and burning documents using homemade napalm in 1968. Their dramatic demonstrations were emblematic of the broader antiwar sentiment and led to their involvement in the high-profile "Catonsville Nine" trial, where their images in priests' collars became iconic symbols of the movement.
Both brothers faced significant legal repercussions for their activism, serving time in federal prison after their arrests. Daniel Berrigan's reputation grew through his writings and speeches, while Philip continued his antiwar efforts through organizations like "Kairos" and "Plowshares," leading to further legal troubles. The brothers remained active in social causes throughout their lives, with Daniel participating in events like the Occupy movement until his later years. Philip passed away in 2002, leaving a lasting legacy as advocates for peace and justice.
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Berrigan Brothers
Identification: American Roman Catholic priests and social activists
Significance: Dubbed the Berrigan Brothers by the media, these men were prosecuted for their anti-Vietnam War activities
Leading figures of the anti-Vietnam War “New Catholic Left” movement, the Berrigans were both central figures in American trials for their nonviolent but dramatic actions against U.S. government policies. They had long been interested in civil rights issues when they came to national prominence. In May 1968, they were arrested for pouring blood on Baltimore draft board records, and for burning similar documents in Catonsville, Maryland, with homemade napalm. During the ensuing trial of the “Catonsville Nine,” a group of defendants that included the Berrigans and seven other war protesters, photos and posters of the brothers in priests’ collars, manacled in handcuffs while holding up the two-finger “peace sign,” became well-known symbols of the antiwar movement.
The Berrigans were sentenced to six years in federal prison, but Daniel Berrigan went underground for four months, exasperating federal authorities by making brief public appearances before disappearing again. He was eventually caught and joined his brother serving his sentence in the federal prison at Danbury, Connecticut, where they led a hunger strike among prisoners in August 1971.
In January 1971, Philip Berrigan, five fellow clergy members, and a Pakistani college professor were indicted as the “Harrisburg Seven” for allegedly plotting to raid government offices, kidnap presidential advisor Henry Kissinger, and blow up heating ducts in the Pentagon Building. The government’s case, built around Boyd Douglas, an unreliable and compromised Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) informant, failed, although the defense team led by former U.S. attorney general Ramsey Clark presented no case on its own behalf. The prosecution, led by veteran District Attorney William Lynch, succeeded only in convicting Philip Berrigan for smuggling love letters to Sister Mary McAllister, a fellow defendant.
During their trials at both Catonsville and Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, the articulate and charismatic brothers were supported by large-scale propaganda machines on a level similar to major political campaigns. This was particularly true for the Harrisburg Seven trial, in which the government’s case became increasingly embarrassing to FBI director J. Edgar Hoover and the Nixon Administration. Daniel Berrigan’s reputation was augmented by his speeches and writings, notably his play, The Trial of the Catonsville Nine, performances of which began in New York City in the fall of 1971, and his autobiography, The Dark Night of Resistance, which won the Thomas More Medal. (He has also published several volumes of poetry, commentary on the Roman Catholic church, and essays on humanity’s responsibilities in the nuclear age.) Even in old age, Daniel Berrigan remained active in social causes, participating in the Occupy movement in 2012.
After 1979 Philip Berrigan continued his antiwar activities while working in two groups, the New York ecumenical organization “Kairos” and “Plowshares,” which performed dozens of demonstrations including damaging two unarmed warheads at a General Electric plant in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania. These actions led to repeated jail sentences for Philip. Another notable incident was an April 1992, sentence in Ellicott County, Maryland, for five years resulting from his involvement with seven other activists who trespassed into the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory in Columbia, Maryland. Philip Berrigan died in 2002.
Bibliography
Anderson, George M. "Looking Back in Gratitude." America: The National Catholic Review. America Press, 6 July 2009. Web. 19 Nov. 2015.
Curtis, Richard. The Berrigan Brothers: The Story of Daniel and Philip Berrigan. New York: Hawthorn, 1974. Print.
Hedges, Chris. "Daniel Berrigan: America’s Street Priest." TruthDig.com. Common Dreams, 11 June 2012. Web. 19 Nov. 2015.
Polner, Murray, and Jim O'Grady. Disarmed and Dangerous: The Radical Lives and Times of Daniel and Philip Berrigan. New York: Basic, 1997. Print.