Report on overnight Anti-War Ireland vigil at US embassy

dublin | anti-war / imperialism | news report Sunday June 27, 2004 02:59 by Anti-War Ireland info at antiwarireland dot org

Dublin's poster police tear down anti-Bush posters at vigil

An overnight vigil was held at the US embassy in Ballsbridge from Friday night by Anti-War Ireland activists Fintan Lane and Deirdre Clancy (who is also a member of the Dublin Catholic Worker and the Pitstop Ploughshares). Lane is banned from entering County Clare and Clancy from going within five miles of Shannon airport as a result of their anti-war activity in the area.

The vigil was undertaken as an act of solidarity with those suffering under the Bush regime, and in opposition to his presence in the country.

The reaction from people passing was great from the outset. Passing motorists, taxi drivers and bus drivers honked and waved in support, and many passers by stopped to agree with the reasons for the vigil. A Metallica gig in the nearby RDS provided some 20,000 passers-by around midnight with many expressing support. Quite a few people joined the vigil for brief periods and one man remained from 9pm to 1am.

The vigil included photographs of Iraqi men, women and children who have suffered as a result of the US invasion of that country, and Anti-War Ireland 'No to War, No to Bush' posters were placed on the bollards just in front of where people were sitting.

The posters were crucial, in the sense that these are what alerted passing motorists and, indeed, pedestrians to what was going on. At no stage did embassy staff or the gardai object to their presence. However, at roughly 6.30am a small white car screeched to a halt on double-yellow lines just in front of the vigil and a stocky choleric individual jumped out and immediately began to tear down the posters. He was challenged and asked to return those he'd already ripped from the bollards. He refused, explained he was from Dublin City Council (he handed over a card), and he proceeded to confiscate the remaining posters while muttering something about people being prosecuted later. He turned out to be one Liam Hendrick, who describes himself as 'co-ordinator of waste management services' with Dublin City Council.

He was again challenged about the inconsistency of the council's behaviour. The following conversation was had:

Fintan Lane: "This is ridiculous. Why aren't you tearing down election posters and instigating prosecutions against politicians?"

Liam Hendrick: "We are."

Fintan: "You are not. Clontarf Road is still covered in Gay Mitchell posters, but you went out there a few nights to tear down anti-war posters and not a single Mitchell poster was removed."

LH: "We need to get special equipment"

Fintan: "Will Gay Mitchell be prosecuted?"

LH (shiftily): "Um. Yes."

Fintan: "So he will be prosecuted?"

LH (with more vigour): "Yes."

Don't hold your breath.

At this stage a guard approached because Hendrick was double-parked, thus allowing him to rapidly exit the scene with posters.

It should be borne in mind that this little petty bureaucrat could hardly have been on the clock. It was 6.30am and he was clearly on his way to work. Obviously this 'gentleman' is under orders, but it's obvious that he takes a delight in tearing down other people's property, judging by the zest with which he perforormed his so-called 'duties'. He could have just driven by on the basis that he hadn't yet clocked in.

So, the vigil was wonderful, bar the brief presence of the poster police.