|
|
Blog Feeds
Anti-Empire
The SakerA bird's eye view of the vineyard
Public InquiryInterested in maladministration. Estd. 2005
Voltaire NetworkVoltaire, international edition
|
Photos, Kildare St, Dublin, April 02 national |
miscellaneous |
news report
 Thursday April 03, 2003 16:16 by Joe Murphy doire98 at yahoo dot com
 A handful of more pictures from last night, apologies for the quality. Shame the NGO rep only got to speak last, I've no interest in hearing politicans on an anti-war event, they should keep their energy for the Dail, which going by it's present state would be of more benefit to the Ireland by being burnt to the ground. Congrats to all who were there. It would be nice to have stayed rather than have an 'agreed' withdrawl with speeches. No need to hear SF rant considering they were having dinner with Bertie in the whitehouse the weekend before the War started. Shame that they get invited to speak. Can we keep it to Anti-war reps rather than politicans? I've had my fill of politicans promises....If another demo ends with political point-scoring I think I'll pack in going in the future. |
printable version
Digg this
del.icio.us
Furl
Reddit
Technorati
Facebook
Gab
Twitter
|
View Comments Titles Only
save preference
Comments (16 of 16)
Jump To Comment: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16It was an excellent protest last night. The only problem, as usual, was the behaviour of the cops. The decision to employ robocop "riot police" to intimidate an entirely peaceful protest was a disgrace.
The protesters succeeded in blocking the exit from the Dail for more than two hours. The bitter comments from Fine Gael and PD Senators today show how much of an impact we had.
The atmosphere amongst the protestors was very good with everybody looking out for everybody else. The cops on the other hand made two arrests. One of those arrested and charged, for the crime of being pushed around by the cops, was a school student member of Socialist Youth.
Apart from Joe Higgins of the Socialist Party who was memorably carted off by the cops, it was nice to see some of the Sinn Fein TDs getting their arses dirty in the sit down.
It was also good that we left in an organised fashion rather than just hanging on until the crowd thinned and the remnants were open to victimisation.
What SF TDs were there out of curiosity?
Couldn´t see any from the photos/video coverage.
...Ferris and Morgan were there. Certainly Ferris was. And in the spirit of the comrade who made the first comment, fair play to Joe for putting himself on the line in this.
In related Free State Parliament news, those people involved in anti-war protests on TDs clinics, especially in Tallaght, might find these remarks by pro-use of Shannon TD Charlie O'Connor worth a look. Also interesting that a Labour TD who drove out through the crowd last night was described by one of her own as 'a bit of a muppet':
Mr. O'Connor: A number of phrases struck me today. Some people take the notion that certain members of certain parties have different attitudes to war and attempts are made to paint us as some sort of pro-war advocates, which we are not. I come from a generation which was opposed to war. My father was a member of the Irish Guards and saw action in the war. As I grew up, I had very clear views on war and what it meant. It upsets me as a public representative that politicians like me are being targeted by anti-war groups. Some 12 people turned up at my clinic in Old Bawn the other day chanting and screaming, trying to intimidate and upset people who had come to my clinic.
These people try to prevent politicians from providing a service, which is what we do at advice centres.
Mr. F. McGrath: There is nothing wrong with peaceful protests.
Mr. O'Connor: It is not the way to behave. If I were protesting I would not threaten to throw paint, bang on windows, kick doors or push posters in the faces of elderly vulnerable people. I have no problem with protests because I have often been involved in them. It is how I learned my political trade. However, this is not the way to behave. Apart from intimidating people seeking help from politicians, it creates the impression that all politicians are somehow involved in this situation. I am clearly stating that I oppose war. There should be a more effective way to deal with world problems other than bombing poor people.
I am struck by the images I see on television and in the media. Years ago, when we saw war pictures they were all done in a sort of ra-ra way, which seemed harmless. Now television, particularly Sky News, is bringing war and killing into our homes. We see civilians and children being killed, which is very upsetting.
Martin Ferris was there, it looked like his children where with him.
I asked him about Adams in the whitehouse when they knew the war was going to take place, the response was:
1) We normally go every year
2) Adams made comments against the War in his speech last weekend.
In fairness, I don't think he was expecting to be questioned on it.
Hmmm, And Bertie states we are neutral while letting soldiers pop-over from america.
Different politicans, same hyprocrasy (sp).
I think it was Aengus Ó Snodaigh who spoke for them at the end.
Go To:
http://www.indymedia.ie/cgi-bin/newswire.cgi?id=40210&start=0
As you can all see Joe Higgins of the Socialist Party was dragged off. He was not sitting down at the time. When the Robocops came Joe went to the senior Garda demanding that they remove the Robocops. When they lunged at the crowd, they threw Joe on the ground and dragged him off. They did this when they stared to attack protesters because no-one would see them do this.
Most of the Sinn Féin TDs were there. Aonghus O Snodaigh addressed the crowd afterwards, Martin Ferris and Arthur Morgen were taken by the cops. I saw Sean Crowe around earlier.
The Greens didnt show at all. This is despite many of their members being involved in the sit-down and stewarding.
Labour played a shameful role. Joe Costello was arguing that we should move from the entrance, as there are anti-war TDs and workers in Leinster House that want to drive home! I spotted several anti-war TDs and Leinster House workers involved in the protest!
jono (sp) The atmosphere amongst the protestors was very good with everybody looking out for everybody else.
To be honest I think this is THE crucial point and very, very heartening to see.
Everyone stayed calm, everyone LOOKED OUT for each other - there were people from many political groups and none all sharing a common objective and after 2 hours the cops gained maybe 50 yards..
MORE OF THIS SORT OF THING !
a bit of solidarity and We really could start being effective
by the way
picket at TOP Oil Amien st
this Saturday 3 pm
ALL WELCOME
Conor
Overheard last night:
At one point the person sitting to my left was saying quite loudly to one of his friends "Only Joe Higgins has come out to join in. It's a fucking disgrace, where are all the other anti-war TDs?".
The person on my right who'd been miding his own business up until then interrupted "Actually I'm a Sinn Fein TD..."
I think it was Morgan.
CLearly we still have a face recognition problem.
this td which party is he from?
he is oppossed to the war great
is he opposed to the use of shannon ( or jobs over milatry neutrality)
is he opposed to the arms trade in ireland
he the answer to the second two is no then he is vaible for a peaceful if noisey protest.
ill find and and mail if (like ill get a reply )
but im jsut thinking aloud here.
TDs ·representing· their people.
:-)
maybe they could in future wear little hats or sport posters with the legend
"I AM A TD -AN ELECTED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE PEOPLE AGAINST WAR"
or you could have a little mini Dail of your own.
"we are a collection of representatives of the people and we want to listen to them and sure we could hire the Mansion House for this sort of thing couldn't we?"
oh no don't go there...remember the last time.
fair play to ye all.
though in my experience of seeing such things occur, generally the "TD" or equivalent bit after your name can make the whole Garda/Police bit less hassleful.....Maybe ye could all become TDs!?
We'll bate de fockin shite ourra de whole fockin lot of dem, TD or no TDs - doesn't maher a shite to us ...
We'll get dem fockin commie bastards and show dem wha law an order means ...
I blame it all on de moddern edjewkayshun system ... back to de christian brudders, a good whalin wit de strap and bein buggered every evening at bedtime and dat'd sort dem fellas out .....
Where is dis country headin atall atall .....
We did it under O Duffy in de 1930's and by jaysus we'll do it again today if need be .....
And any lip ourra dem TDs and we'll crack a few of dere skulls too ... proper order .....
With all respect to the IAWM, the Dublin Catholic Worker held a 24 hour vigil/fast at the Dail until noon on Thursday, the day after the demo.
I heard one of the stewards announcing over the mega-phone for people to assemble at Molesworth St. for a sum-up rally and speeches, and then we can 'go home'.
I decided to inform him that people were invited to remain on and participate in the vigil/fast and/or hold their own protest vigil for longer.
He would not announce it over the mega-phone(not a terribly big surprise).
I have to admit that I did lose the cool a bit when he said that the blockade was the best direct action so-far.
In all fairness, last night was great because of people's resilience and their spirit of non-violent resistance against the unjust aggression by the (riot) cops.
Recently, the stand-in American ambassador to Ireland (is it Jane Forth?) has been quite forthcoming by admitting that 3 airlines, under US military contract and using Shannon facilities, withdrew their use of the airport as a direct result of the two disarmament actions on a US Navy plane:
Mary Kelly at the end of January, and the Pit-Stop Ploughshares 5 on Feb. 3rd; one of whom, Karen Fallon from Scotland, remains in Limerick Prison with consent to bail, out of solidarity with those terrorised in Iraq by US/UK belligerents.
Yes, there are many forms of direct action. Different groups have different agendas and use the anti-war forum to invite people to educate themselves on their philosophy (or lack thereof)!!!!
An understandable position.
Agendas aside, the reality is that Shannon Airport has been militarised, as was Kildare Street last night, and business as usual must cease until these issues are addressed in full.
The normal routine of our lives need to be disturbed if we are to be in solidarity with the innocent people of Iraq.
The 4 Pit-Stop Ploughshares activists currently on bail and active in Dublin have received very strict bail conditions designed to paralyse their movement, intimidate and break their spirits. My conditions are:
*Sign on at local Garda station daily.
*Stay 1/2 mile from US Embassy.
*Stay out of County Clare(sound familiar to others arrested at Shannon;-))
If the conditions are seen to be broken, I have to pay €3000 an immediately returned, as a guest of the state, to reside again (5 and a 1/2 weeks accumulated thus far) at Limerick prison.
Even the everyday normal lives of those who are waging total war, the unfortunate US/UK/ 'Coalition' brainwashed cannon-fodder involved in barbaric slaughter, have been dramatically disturbed.
All those who solemnly believe this war is unjust and favour direct action in the spirit of non-violence, deserve to be made aware of the totality of war.
As a Peace Movement we need to wage peace totally. This may mean in the disturbance of one's routine everyday lifestyle.
It may be important to reflect that to attain peace we must work for justice (Paul VI).
And in this light, the protestor/resister can be invited away from partial peacemaking to total peacemaking. Daily vigils and/or fasts at US, UK, Spanish, Polish, etc. embassies fro short/long durations; boycotting Esso, Coca-Cola, Texaco, Top Oil, Burger King, McDonalds, etc. and other means of non-violent resistance in it's many manifestations.
In the spirit of non-violence I congratulate all who participated in various capacities on Wednesday night. I hope it will inspire many more people to travel to Shannon Airport on April 12th.
Generally in agreement with you Damien but as regard this.......
"Recently, the stand-in American ambassador to Ireland (is it Jane Forth?) has been quite forthcoming by admitting that 3 airlines, under US military contract and using Shannon facilities, withdrew their use of the airport as a direct result of the two disarmament actions on a US Navy plane:"
Jane Fort was also referring to mass trespass and mass trespass attempts (she said as much).