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Bradford Priest Arrested at Nuclear Blockade

Rich | 16.11.2006 13:07 | Faslane | Anti-militarism

Over 50 Anti Nuclear protestors from Leeds and Bradford took part in a mass blockade of the Faslane Nuclear Naval Base in Scotland this morning. Twenty seven of the protestors, including the Revd Chris Howson from Bradford were arrested for their role in the blockade, which included 'locking on' to a giant CND symbol outside the main gates of the base.

A group of women were also arrested after succesfully blocking the second gate of the base. They were dressed as lollipop ladies and carried 'Stop Trident' signs.

Protestors managed to cause disruption to traffic trying to enter the base for almost an hour whilst police removed protestors lying in the road and used cutting equipment to remove the 'lock ons'.

The blockade was part of 'Faslane 365', a year-long campaign set up to oppose the existence of Trident, the British nuclear submarine programme and to oppose the introduction of any replacement to Trident.

The Rev Chris Howson said, "I came to Faslane to show support to those who had planned to take part in the blockade. I was arrested by the police whilst standing on the pavement outside the base for reasons they would not explain to me, despite my repeated requests. "It is clear to me that the Government's interests are not with the majority who are opposed to Trident replacement and would rather see the billions wasted on the nuclear weapons programme spent on health, education or climate change, but with George Bush and his colleagues who want us to live in a world of threat, fear and nuclear hypocrisy."

Professor Dave Webb from Leeds and Convenor of Yorkshire CND said, "Today's turnout has been fantastic. We have had a great mix of people blockading today, young and old. It just goes to show that people are prepared to take action for the world we live in. The Government must listen to us all and allow a full public and Parliamentay debate on Trident replacement, and disarmament must be an option."

Rich
- Homepage: http://www.faslane365.org/leeds_and_bradford

Additions

Photos and another quote

16.11.2006 14:19




Before being arrested, one York-based blockader gave this explanation for his actions: "I have chosen to get arrested at Faslane because its such an important issue. Simply having a march through London would not convey the urgency of ending the nuclear hypocrisy: while Blair tells Iran not to create nukes, we're planning to develop more of our own. What example does this set?"

Rich


Comments

Hide the following 6 comments

Full support to Rev Chris

17.11.2006 00:08

Fantastic work carried out by the very great Rev Chris and the others from the Leeds and W Yorks cohorts. The 911 Truth types really need to join up to your efforts in exposing and undermining this fascist and genocidal state. The resistance must grow

dh
mail e-mail: wy911@goowy.com
- Homepage: http://wytruth.org.uk


Prepared to take action

18.11.2006 03:08

'Professor Dave Webb from Leeds and Convenor of Yorkshire CND said, "Today's turnout has been fantastic. We have had a great mix of people blockading today, young and old. It just goes to show that people are prepared to take action for the world we live in.'

It also shows just how many people were not prepared to take action. Professor Webb should not reagrd the actual turnout as 'fantastic'. His real fantasy should be that he should ever get any real, substantial, public support. Mr Webb is a public employee with a cause. Perhaps he should consider why so few of the public think as he does, and then consider his postion. He is obviously someone who is paid by the people but who has no idea what the overwhelming majority of hte people want or are bothered about.

simon


"What people want, or are bothered about"

18.11.2006 15:03

This might give the abov eposter an idea of what people want.
 http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/list?offset=200
Scroll down the page a little. You will find a petition for nuclear disarmament with many, many signatures. Scroll back a page, see the pro-nuclear petition with very few supporters, if any.
Peace

John
- Homepage: http://johnsfreelunch.blogspot.com/


public opinion

18.11.2006 17:35

Most independent surveys show that between 60 - 70 per cent of UK folks are againt a new generation of nuclear weapons. That many people do not feel able to take direct action is a ridiculous way to suggest that they are pro nuclear weapons!

Well done to all you folks :o) hope the police station food wasn't too yucky!

w x

weebl


Just came across your link Rev Chris

19.11.2006 23:23

Fantastic work - hope all truthers take can do the same. Every bit counts.

RA

Riaz Ahmed
mail e-mail: riaz.ahmed@hotmail.com
- Homepage: http://wytruth.org.uk/


Hard work

26.11.2006 20:11


Looks like quite a successful protest with some pretty committed folks.
I guess they police have to get serious because, when the nuke weapons people are going about their business, well, it's a pretty serious business isn't it.

Last year I was talking to an MP on the (can't quite remember the exact name) cross-party group on nuclear defence. I said to him I thought it would be a miracle if Trident wasn't replaced but I hoped it could be done in a way that still counted as some step towards disarmament - less warheads, de-tageting, making them less the backbone of our overall defence.

He agreed, and added that when the politicians go to the public and say, "North Korea's got them, China's got them, Pakistan's got them and we reckon Iran wants them but despite that we're going to get rid of ours..." Basically, the average man in the street isn't going to think that's such a great idea. He's going to say, "F@ck it. If they've got them, I want them..."

Let's hope Labour still have some CND blood in them and take some steps to reduce the significance of these things. Hans Blix identified a number of measures in his book, Weapons of Terror.

Rudi