Doctor Who actress arrested in Cardiff Protest.
undercurrents | 09.08.2006 10:02 | World
Undercurrents News
Press Release
Wednesday August 9 2006
TV ACTRESS IN CARDIFF BLOOD PROTEST.
At 9.10am this morning 6 people were arrested for criminal damage to the pillars of Cardiff Museum.
The protesters covered the outside of the museum in fake blood handprints. Helen Griffin, actress from Doctor Who and recent BAFTA winner was arrested red handed. De Murphy, a grandmother who left her 24 hour Peace vigil at Swansea castle to join the protest was also arrested. A Palestinian Doctor was also amongst the arrested.
The protesters say their actions were aimed at highlighting the British and U.S Governments involvement in the bombing of innocent civilians in Lebanon.
Blood soaked handprints were spread across the steps to highlight the number of lives being lost during Israel’s bombardment of Lebanon.
Street theatre was staged with masked actors playing President Bush and Prime Minster Blair. A case containing $3Billion will be handed over to the Israeli Prime minister Ehud Omert reflecting the United States subsidising of the Israeli war machine each year. The sum amounts to 30% of the US foreign aid budget.
Helen Griffin said
‘Israel has meanwhile broken more UN resolutions than any other country.
1000 Lebanese civilians, nearly half of which have been children, have died since the invasion 28 days ago. Israel has sent its warplanes on more than 8700 bombing missions.’
END
Notes to Editors
Video images will be available from Undercurrents productions. Contact Paul O’Connor on 07973 298359
Press Release
Wednesday August 9 2006
TV ACTRESS IN CARDIFF BLOOD PROTEST.
At 9.10am this morning 6 people were arrested for criminal damage to the pillars of Cardiff Museum.
The protesters covered the outside of the museum in fake blood handprints. Helen Griffin, actress from Doctor Who and recent BAFTA winner was arrested red handed. De Murphy, a grandmother who left her 24 hour Peace vigil at Swansea castle to join the protest was also arrested. A Palestinian Doctor was also amongst the arrested.
The protesters say their actions were aimed at highlighting the British and U.S Governments involvement in the bombing of innocent civilians in Lebanon.
Blood soaked handprints were spread across the steps to highlight the number of lives being lost during Israel’s bombardment of Lebanon.
Street theatre was staged with masked actors playing President Bush and Prime Minster Blair. A case containing $3Billion will be handed over to the Israeli Prime minister Ehud Omert reflecting the United States subsidising of the Israeli war machine each year. The sum amounts to 30% of the US foreign aid budget.
Helen Griffin said
‘Israel has meanwhile broken more UN resolutions than any other country.
1000 Lebanese civilians, nearly half of which have been children, have died since the invasion 28 days ago. Israel has sent its warplanes on more than 8700 bombing missions.’
END
Notes to Editors
Video images will be available from Undercurrents productions. Contact Paul O’Connor on 07973 298359
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Western Mail report
10.08.2006 13:15
Arrest
Aug 10 2006
Robin Turner, Western Mail
BAFTA-WINNING actress Helen Griffin was one of six people arrested yesterday for daubing red paint on the walls of the National Museum of Wales in protest at the conflict in the Middle East.
The Swansea-based actress and playwright appeared in the last series of Doctor Who battling the ironclad Cybermen.
She and five other protesters, including a Palestinian doctor, admitted being caught "red handed". Another of those arrested was Dee Murphy, a grandmother who left a 24-hour peace vigil at Swansea Castle to join the Cardiff protest. She was carried into a police van after "going limp" when approached by officers.
Paul O'Conner, a spokesman for the arrested protesters, said yesterday the red paint represented blood being shed in the Middle East conflict. Mr O'Conner, a member of the Swansea-based arts and film body Undercurrents, said, "They had planned to daub the National Assembly but it was decided the security was too tight there. The museum was chosen because it represents the Government."
Earlier Ms Griffin and other demonstrators had protested against events in the Middle East using satirical street theatre. When the protest led to the red "bloody" hand prints being placed on pillars fronting the museum yesterday morning, the six were arrested on suspicion of causing criminal damage. They were questioned later at Cardiff Central Police Station.
Western Mail
Homepage:
http://icwales.icnetwork.co.uk/0100news/0200wales/tm_objectid=17538206%26method=full%26siteid=50082-name_page.html
AWARD-WINNING CITY ACTRESS ARRESTED OVER PAINT DAUBING ANTI-WAR PROTEST
10.08.2006 16:29
Helen Griffin arrest
The activist - accompanied by fellow actress De Murphy, who set up a homeopathy practice in West Cross - reportedly dipped her hands in poster paint and began pressing red hand prints on the building.
The colourful display was designed to highlight opposition to the ongoing conflict in Lebanon.
It was one of a number of protests conducted, including one staged by Swansea activists in the grounds of Swansea Castle.
Officers arrested the pair and took them to a Cardiff police station. They are both members of Swansea Palestinian Community Link.
The protesters said their actions were aimed at the British and US governments and were in protest at the bombing in Lebanon.
Fellow community link member Keith Ross, who took part in the Swansea protest at Castle Square, said: "Helen and De were in Cardiff doing a publicity stunt outside the National Museum in Cathays Park and they were arrested.
"The last we heard was that they had been charged with criminal damage.
"They were using red poster paint to put hand prints on the steps."
A spokeswoman for South Wales Police said: "Four people have been arrested for criminal damage."
South Wales Evening Post
Homepage:
http://www.thisissouthwales.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=161818&command=displayContent&sourceNode=161644&contentPK=15113741&folderPk=88499