Anti-Pilgrim Activist Faces Trespassing Trial, Possible Jail Time If Found Guilty

COURTESY PILGRIM NUCLEAR POWER STATION

PLYMOUTH – A long-time critic of the Pilgrim Nuclear Power Plant goes on trial in Plymouth District Court today, faced with his third trespassing charge on plant property.

Paul Rifkin, 73, of Cotuit, was arrested in May of 2015 by Plymouth police after going onto station property following protest at the plant. Rifkin said he believes the incident was an act of civil disobedience, not trespassing.

“I realize that there was a ‘no trespassing’ sign that I was going beyond, but I was looking to a higher authority than the sign,” Rifkin said. “I was going towards my conscience.”

Rifkin argues the plant presents a serious public safety danger and wants it shut down immediately. Plant owner Entergy plans to close Pilgrim by June of 2019, saying it is no longer financially viable.

Pilgrim is currently subject to additional inspections and scrutiny by the federal Nuclear Regulatory Commission after a series of failed or sub-par inspections. The plant has had multiple unplanned shutdowns in recent years.

Rifkin said inaction is not acceptable to him. “Imagine you’re on the beach, it’s a private beach and there’s a ‘no swimming’ sign. But you look out in the water and there’s a man out there in trouble, drowning. So I would ask you, what do you do?” he said.

Should Rifkin be found guilty, he could face jail time for the offense. It is his third arrest on Pilgrim property.

“I realized that I was taking a chance with this whole thing and that there are consequences” Rifkin said of his arrest. “One of the things when you do civil disobedience is you go in knowing that there indeed may be consequences such as being incarcerated.”

“I don’t want to go to jail,” Rifkin added, citing his age.

Rifkin will represent himself pro se, at the advice of his attorneys.

Cape and Islands State Senator Dan Wolf, a long-time opponent of Pilgrim, will testify on Rifkin’s behalf and is expected to advocate for the civic duty of citizens speaking out against the power plant. Rifkin said he is “honored” that Wolf will testify, adding the Harwich Senator is “one of the few legislators who makes his decisions based on principle rather than which way the wind is blowing.”

Rev. Nell Fields of the Waquoit Congregational Church will testify as a character witness.

The trial begins at 9 am at Plymouth District Court on Obery Street. Rifkin is encouraging anti-Pilgrim supports to attend the proceedings.

By MATT McCARTHY, CapeCod.com NewsCenter.