Aboard the sailing ship Beaver, scene of the Boston Tea Party, local anti-nuclear leaders yesterday announced growing support for the planned occupation of the Seabrook nuclear power plant site in New Hampshire.

Claiming support from 76 anti-nuclear groups around the country, leaders of the Boston Clamshell Coalition predicted they would succeed in their October 6 attempt to occupy the site and prevent construction.

"We intend to have more people than the jails of New Hampshire can hold," Brian Tokar, a member of the Boston group said.

Similar press conferences were held in 25 other American cities yesterday. At each, Clamshell organizers or leaders of other anti-nuclear groups pledged to "close the Seabrook plant by nonviolently, physically stopping construction. Our aim is to non-violently enter the Seabrook nuclear site, and to prevent construction by staying there," organizers said.

Let's Do It Again

Seabrook, which is being built by the New Hampshire Public Service Company, has been the scene of two large-scale civil disobedience actions over the last three years. Large numbers of protesters were arrested at each of the two previous actions.

"The goal of this action is not to provoke a fight, nor is it to get arrested," organizers said yesterday. "Rather, our vision is to collectively create, in conjunction with local residents, an anti-nuclear community of people building, gardening and living on the site."

The occupation is modelled on a successful takeover of a German construction site in 1975. 28,000 protesters stayed on the site at Whyl, West Germany for 18 months.

The Public Service Company has requested police assistance to "help protect our property," a spokesman said yesterday.

"Affinity groups" of a few protesters are training for the occupation, Tokar said, adding, "It is imperative that all participants attend non-violence and logistics preparations sessions." Several such groups are forming at Harvard University, Tokar said.

The occupation will definitely be held, Tokar added. "The only negotiations that can take place are on the site with all those occupiers who want to take part present."