Today I went to see Brian Haw who has been on a one-man vigil for Iraq in London’s Parliament Square since 1st June 2001. He sleeps in the square 24/7 and says he will be there for “as long as it takes.” Initially he was campaigning against the economic sanctions on Iraq and the bombing of the country by the US and UK. After 11 September 2001, he widened his focus, directing his messages of peace against the 'war on terror', the terror that the UK and US have inflicted on Afghanistan and Iraq. He protests on behalf of those innocent people who suffer and die in other countries, as our governments seek to further their own economic, military, political and strategic interests around the world. The authorities have been trying to remove him for most of the time he has been there but Brian can’t be got rid of! He is being taken to court again and the case is “proceeding”.
Brian keeps a running total of the number of days he has been in the square but he was a little tired today and is unsure of the exact total. It’s been three and a half years now and his website www.parliament-square.org.uk gives the total as 1,282. I showed him the flyer for the Iraq teach-in taking place at the University of London tomorrow and he was delighted to see Jo Wilding was taking part. Brian had feared the worst for Jo, who drove an ambulance in Fallujah back in April. He hopes she will come and give him a big hug!
Brian is a father himself with 7 children and he says: "I want to go back to my own kids and look them in the face again knowing that I've done all I can to try and save the children of Iraq and other countries who are dying because of my government's unjust, amoral, fear - and money - driven policies. These children and people of other countries are every bit as valuable and worthy of love as my precious wife and children."
Messages of support are welcome and can be sent via Voices UK, 5 Caledonian Road, London N1 9DY or direct to Brian Haw, Parliament Square, London SW1.

Four labelled photos are attached.









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