On July 28, 2012, the three activists cut through three fences before reaching a $548 million storage bunker. They hung banners, strung crime-scene tape and hammered off a small chunk of the fortress-like Highly Enriched Uranium Materials Facility inside the most secure part of complex.
U.S. District Judge Thapar said he was concerned they showed no remorse and he wanted the punishment to be a deterrent for other activists.
In other words they were given harsh sentences for a protest to discourage other protests involving civil disobedience, like trespassing.
The US condemns the harsh treatment of protesters in other countries, so why is harsh treatment of AMERICAN protesters tolerated?