WEST BATH – Protesters who railed against the christening of a warship at Maine’s Bath Iron Works have made their first court appearances.

The demonstrators were arrested outside the shipyard on June 18 at the christening of the second in the Zumwalt class of destroyers for the Navy. They’re charged with obstructing a public way.

Nine of the 12 defendants appeared in West Bath District Court on Tuesday to plead not guilty. An attorney entered pleas on behalf of the other three defendants.

The group intends to seek a unified trial.

John Morris of New Gloucester, one of them, said he wants to see the shipyard converted to build commuter rail systems, or to produce energy from alternative sources.

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