Richard Springer
Rick Springer | |
---|---|
Born | Richard Paul Springe 1951 |
Died | 2010 (aged 58–59) |
Occupation | Anti-nuclear activist |
Known for | 1992 assault of Ronald Reagan |
Richard "Rick" Paul Springer (c. 1951 – 2010) was an American anti-nuclear activist. He was best known for his arrest after smashing a crystal statue in front of former President Ronald Reagan at a luncheon in 1992, and his subsequent imprisonment on various charges.
Biography
Early in life Richard Springer worked as a carpenter, a youth counselor, and a merchant mariner.[1]
In the early 1990s Springer founded The Hundredth Monkey Project, what he hoped would be a "massive set of concerts and demonstrations" bringing together anti-nuclear activists. The effort never fully materialized; however, on the weekend of April 10 to 12, 1992, a more modest gathering of 2,000 people assembled in the desert near the
Springer was arraigned and released on his own recognizance pending trial.[1][3] The following week he was interviewed by CBS This Morning about the incident, and explained that he was hoping to raise awareness about the dangers of nuclear testing. In the interview, Springer went on to say, "I certainly must offer an apology to Mr. Reagan", explaining that he was committed to non-violence and regretted any concern he had caused for Reagan's safety.[1][4]
The following February, Springer pled guilty to a misdemeanor charge of interference with the Secret Service. Springer was due to surrender himself to begin serving a four-month jail sentence over the incident on June 2, 1993. Instead, however, he sent a fax to a Nevada television station saying he would not surrender himself to authorities until the United States government began adhering to all treaties "calling for the cessation of all nuclear weapons tests in all atmospheres for all time". Springer also sent a letter to the
Springer was apprehended two months later and charged with Failure to Surrender. In his subsequent trial, he pled not guilty, stating that a higher moral law required he continue anti-nuclear activism rather than go to prison. His first trial on the new charges resulted in a hung jury; however, he was convicted on a second attempt and sentenced to prison, being released in 1995.[5][6]
In 1997 Springer published a book, Excuse Me, Mr. President: The Message of the Broken Eagle.[7]
After his release from prison, Springer lived for a time in Arcata, California with artist Carol Andersen and her two children. Andersen's children later reported that Springer was abusive and an alcoholic.[8] In later years, Springer lived on a ranch in Gerlach, Nevada. He died two weeks after his 2010 wedding of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound.[9][8][10]
See also
References
- ^ a b c d e Warren, Jennifer (July 16, 1993). "Man Who Disrupted Reagan Speech Flees 4-Month Jail Term". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved February 13, 2017.
- ISBN 8772895330.
- ^ New York Times. April 16, 1992. Retrieved February 13, 2017.
- ^ "Upstaging Authority". University of Chicago Magazine. February 1995. Retrieved February 13, 2017.
- Bureau of Prisons. Retrieved February 13, 2017.
- ISBN 0966185609.
- OCLC 40868786. Retrieved February 13, 2017 – via Worldcat.
- ^ a b Andersen, Rose (2019-08-20). "Rick Springer Was an Activist in the World, a Terrorist at Home". The Cut. Retrieved 2019-08-23.
- ^ Sims, Hank (September 28, 2010). "R.I.P. Rick Springer: Anti-Nuke Activist, Reagan Assaulter, Former Humboldter". North Coast Journal. Retrieved February 13, 2017.
- ^ "Rick Springer Dies By Own Hand – October 5, 2010 | The Arcata Eye". Retrieved 2019-08-23.