Direct Action Against War Now! (D.A.A.W.N!) Press Release

e-mail:  direct_action_against_the_war_now@hotmail.com


D.A.A.W.N! is a recently born coalition of activists who have agreed to engage in Direct Action and Civil Disobedience to stop the British government's on-going support for Bush's war, which sees no boundaries and respects no International law, and to prevent future military interventions, in any form.

We, as citizens, cannot stand by as the "war on terrorism" is extended to include such targets as Iraq, Iran, North Korea, Somalia, Sudan and Libya, while American military advisors and/or troops are engaged in "counter-insurgency" operations in the Philippines, Yemen and Colombia, as part of the neo-colonialist agenda. Another genocide as we have witnessed in Afghanistan (far from over) will be opposed by any means necessary.

We acknowledge that traditional forms of protest have failed to bring to the attention of the media the massive popular opposition to the war, let alone influence government policy-making. We, therefore, are left no other chance but to choose more confrontational forms of resistance, even at the cost of breaking the law, to make our voice heard. This decision is a natural consequence of the actions of our government, which we feel has no respect for International law, nor for the will of its people.

Our first action is planned to coincide with the CND demo on March 30th, when we will occupy Grosvenor Square, at 1pm, and engage in a variety of forms of creative resistance, with the aim of bringing to the streets our rage against the government and our vision of a war-free world.

Criminalisation and repression will not stop us, only justice will bring peace. The media has a history of painting anyone who dares to struggle as a "terrorist", but journalists must realise the risk of this, as ignoring such a strong movement risks leaving people in search of more radical paths.

We hope that our action receives the attention it deserves as a legitimate expression of the voice of the people: the very roots of democracy are at risk here.

Against War! Against Oppression! Against Imperialism!

D.A.A.W.N!