Photos from Irish Embassy Occupation
Hugh Warwick | 03.03.2005 14:15 | Anti-militarism
2nd March - Six British anti-war activists today occupied the Irish Embassy in London. They are protesting criminal charges against peace activists who will next week face a possible ten year prison sentence for physically disarming a US Navy Plane at Shannon Airport.
Just after the embassy opened for business, the protestors peacefully chained themselves together inside of the building in Grosvenor Place, whilst others have hung a banner reading, “PITSTOP PLOUGHSHARES: NOT GUILTY” outside.
Joss Garman, speaking for the demonstrators, explained, “The Pitstop Ploughshares – who damaged the plane at Shannon airport - acted to uphold International Law, and to prevent Irish complicity in genocide. Far from breaking the law, they were upholding it, because the war in Iraq was clearly illegal. It clearly isn’t right that peace campaigners should face years in prison, whilst Bertie Ahern remains at large.”
He added, “We wanted to add our voices to those of Desmond Tutu and Martin Sheen, in proclaiming, “Prevention of a war crime is not a crime.” In many ways, the runway at Shannon airport could be compared to the railroad to Auschwitz, afterall, 100,000 people are dead.”
For information/interviews:
www.warontrial.com
Joss Garman, speaking for the demonstrators, explained, “The Pitstop Ploughshares – who damaged the plane at Shannon airport - acted to uphold International Law, and to prevent Irish complicity in genocide. Far from breaking the law, they were upholding it, because the war in Iraq was clearly illegal. It clearly isn’t right that peace campaigners should face years in prison, whilst Bertie Ahern remains at large.”
He added, “We wanted to add our voices to those of Desmond Tutu and Martin Sheen, in proclaiming, “Prevention of a war crime is not a crime.” In many ways, the runway at Shannon airport could be compared to the railroad to Auschwitz, afterall, 100,000 people are dead.”
For information/interviews:
www.warontrial.com
Hugh Warwick
e-mail:
hedgehog@gn.apc.org
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additional photos
03.03.2005 16:09
Hugh Warwick