US marines confronted at Shannon

national | miscellaneous | news report Tuesday December 18, 2001 13:23 by James

Report and pictures from Saturdays demo

Anti War message rings in ears of
US Marines at Shannon airport

[This report is online with another, over a
dozen photos and links to more reports
and photos of the Shannon demo at
http://struggle.ws/wsm/news/2001/shannonDEC.html ]

Men, women and children have been bombed and
gunned to death by US forces in Afghanistan and
on Saturday 15th of December men women and
children from the four corners of Ireland
gathered at Shannon airport to protest at the
use of that facility as a stop over and
refuelling point for US death squads.

About 70 people took part, far less than at the
Dublin anti-war parades, there were no
passionate speeches from politicians and only
one paper seller. This was a direct action
protest not a carnival. Some people did
infiltrate the terminal which was pretty empty,
but a solid phalanx of airport police and Gardai
meant that any mass entrance was impossible. A
protest took place outside the terminal first
with the outlines of bodies being drawn on the
ground slogans chanted etc. A minutes silence
was observed for the dead of the war and then
word filtered through that US marines were
reboarding their plane.

The protesters proceeded to the fence near the
plane and let the US marines know what we
thought of them. Nervous airport police and
Gardai became more aggressive pushing and
shoving a number of the protestors. Some of the
barbed wire atop the fence became detached. One
courageous soul legged it across the margins
towards the plane but was tackled to the ground
and arrested. Another protestor was arrested
when Gardai pushed some people to the ground.
There was a stand off for about 20 minutes and
then we withdrew in an orderly fashion the
message given and a marker put down.

What we could have done with 3,000 people will
remain in the realms of speculation until those
opposed to war realise that direct action is the
way forward.

Solidarity with those charged with offences as a
result of the days events will be needed all
those concerned with justice should keep in
touch with this.

[This report is online with another, over a
dozen photos and links to more reports
and photos of the Shannon demo at
http://struggle.ws/wsm/news/2001/shannonDEC.html ]