GARDAI BAN ANTI WAR PROTEST FROM DUBLIN’S GRAFTON ST.

Saturday December 07, 2002 12:16

by IRISH ANTI WAR MOVEMENT

A march to the US embassy in opposition to US war on Iraq due to take place in Dublin today (7th December) has been banned by Gardai from the Grafton St area of the city.

IRISH ANTI WAR MOVEMENT

NEWS FLASH….NEWSFLASH….NEWSFLASH……

GARDAI BAN ANTI WAR PROTEST FROM DUBLIN’S GRAFTON ST.

A march to the US embassy in opposition to US war on Iraq due to take place in Dublin today (7th December) has been banned by Gardai from the Grafton St area of the city.

The Irish Anti War Movement (IAWM) who are organising the protest were informed yesterday by Gardai that they will be ‘physically prevented’ from marching through Grafton St.

The march which is expected to number several thousand will assemble at the Central Bank Plaza on Dame St in Dublin city centre at 2pm was due to march up Grafton St to Stephen’s Green before progressing onto the US embassy in Ballsbridge.

Richard Boyd Barrett, chairperson of the IAWM who was informed of the Gardai decision Friday denounced the Gardai move. He said:

“This is a political decision to crack down on the substantial and growing anti war movement in this country. It is also part of a more general crack down by this state on peaceful demonstrations, which has been evident over the last year. We saw it most clearly demonstrated on the Re-claim the streets march last summer when Gardai brutally attacked demonstrators, but Gardai harassment of protests has markedly increased since the end of last year.”

Supporting his view that this was a political decision Boyd Barrett said:

“The last anti war demonstration we organised in September had nearly two thousand people on it and was allowed down Grafton St by the Gardai. That demonstration passed off completely peacefully. I personally have been on several large demonstrations that went down Grafton St including student demonstrations that numbered over five thousand. All passed off without any incident.”

He added:

“The Garda Inspector who phoned me from Pearse St Garda station told me directly that the decision came from higher up. He named Chief Superintendent William Donoghue as the man who had informed him that the march would not be allowed go up Grafton St. Although, you would have to wonder whether or not this is not coming directly from the government and Michael Mc Dowell’s office. This government is very worried by the high level of public opposition in Ireland to the US war in Iraq and in particular to the use of Shannon Airport by the US military. There has is also an international crack-down on protest and civil liberties since September 11th led by the US but now being taken up by other governments including our own.”

Boyd Barrett appealed to the Gardai and government to reverse this decision and allow a peaceful protest against the real violence of war in the world to be allowed go down its intended route.

“We want to get across a simple message that killing innocent people in Iraq or elsewhere will do nothing to solve the problems of conflict in the world and we want to do it in a peaceful way. Opinion polls show clearly that the majority of people in this country agree with that and want Ireland to have nothing to do with this crazy war drive. Tragically this government thinks its relationship with George Bush is more important than democracy but we appeal to them to listen to the people or at let allow them to speak. If the Gardai or government don’t reverse this decision we will have to look at our options tomorrow.”

Boyd Barrett concluded: “in the face of this attempt to censor the anti war movement we call on all those opposed to war and the use of Shannon by the military to take to the streets and make their voices heard.”

Speakers at the event include: Jeremy Corbyn MP Labour party (Britain), Des Geraghty, SIPTU President, Mary Van Lieshout (US citizens for Alternatives to War) as well as school children, third level students and representatives of the Islamic community in Ireland.