As long as it takes
"I want to go back to my own kids and look them in the face again knowing that I've done all I can to try and save the children of Iraq and other countries who are dying because of my government's unjust, amoral, fear - and money - driven policies. These children and people of other countries are every bit as valuable and worthy of love as my precious wife and children."
How many must die?
Brian started his 24/7 vigil in 2001 to protest about the suffering of Iraqis during the 1990s because of economic sanctions. He continues because of all those who have, and continue, to suffer as a result of the invasion and occupation of Iraq. In Oct 2004 The Lancet estimated that 100,000 Iraqis have died. In Oct 2006 it was estimated that 655,000 people have died in Iraq as a result of the 2003 invasion (see more here). And how many millions of other lives have been blighted for ever?
Send Brian a postcard of support c/o Parliament Square, London SW1A
This photo was taken by Gemma Day in Dec 04 for an Independent on Sunday article. See all media articles
Mark Thomas, comedian and campaigner, 2004
" ...Now they wish to evict Brian from his place of protest. Maybe because he is an embarrassment to such a war mongering government. Whatever their reason it is wrong. A democracy that can not stand one man and some placards outside its front doors doesn't seem to have much faith in itself. That is why I support Brian for Parliament."
The heroic Brian Haw
Letter in The Independent, 2 Aug 05
Sir: Brian Haw has struck a major blow for international peace in his passive defiance of government aggression in the face of his peace protest (report, 30 July). I cannot think of anyone who has sacrificed as much as he has on a personal level in the cause of peace in this country and I would like to see him being nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize.
Andrew Stephenson, Newhaven, East Sussex
Jenny Jones, GLA Green Party Gp, 23 May 06
"In my view, Brian is doing us all an amazing service. He is the visible presence of widespread opposition to the aggression on Iraq and a constant reminder to both the Blairs (PM and Met Commissioner) that this government is out of touch with the people it wants to govern. If Brian is moved, it means a loss of civil liberties that will diminish the whole of society."
Brian shortlisted for Human Rights Award
"For outstanding commitment to justice by maintaining constant vigil outside parliament demanding respect for the human rights of those in other countries. For tireless and passionate defence of freedom of speech."
The 2005 award is organised by the human rights campaigning organisation Liberty and Justice and The Law Society and is sponsored by the Bar Council. See here.
John McDonnell MP
'The Government will be passing power to one part of the state to control demonstrations in a way that we have never known before in the history of this country. Tonight, we are seeing a small but significant part of our democratic tradition being chiselled away. Why? Because one person out there has the moral authority, the guts, the tenacity and the courage to stand in Parliament square for several years telling us what we did wrong in this House by authorising a war. Part of the motivation behind this legislation is that some people cannot come to terms with the illegality and immorality of their actions in this place. We should be supporting that democratic voice out there, and the right of that individual to voice his concerns in this way—near to us.
Commons debate in Feb 05 on the passing of the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act (SOCPA) which banned unauthorised protest near Parliament. See more
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Immediate press release
Friday 5 May 2006
COURT OF APPEAL DECISION MONDAY 8 MAY ON
PARLIAMENT SQUARE
PROTESTOR'S RIGHT TO STAY
10am, Monday 8 May 2006, Court 71, Royal
Courts of Justice, The Strand, London
After a Court of Appeal hearing on 2 April, three
judges will on Monday present their decision in a case that will
determine the legality Brian Haw's demonstration.
The peace protestor Brian Haw has been staging a
continuous peace demonstration opposite Parliament for nearly
5 years. He has been to court many times to defend his right to
protest against the government's foreign policy in Iraq. On Monday
he will again be attending court to hear the case to be allowed
to continue his presence in Parliament Square.
The Home Office and the Metropolitan Police are
appealing a High Court judgement made in July last year which
found that the law that had been passed specifically in order
to remove him from Parliament Square did not apply to Mr Haw.
Mr Haw's demonstration had been seen as lawful since
he won his first High Court victory in October 2005. [A] In 2005
the government included new measures within the Serious Organised
Crime and Police Act (SOCPA) to legally evict him.
However, when drafting the law, the government specified
that demonstrations must have authorisation from the Metropolitan
Commissioner before they 'start'. Last year, Mr Haw's defence
team argued in court that it was only in secondary legislation
that continuous protests such as his were covered. The judges
found that the new law could not be applied retrospectively and
did not apply to Brian Haw and that he could continue his protest
without authorisation from the police. [B]
At the hearing on 2 April, the Home Office, the
Metropolitan Police (as an interested party) and Mr Haw's legal
team all made submissions based on arguments about what the relevant
sections of the law say and how they should be interpreted, what
Parliament's intention was in passing the law and the legality
of the extra measures included in the secondary legislation.
If the appeal does not go in Mr Haw's favour he
could face immediate eviction
proceedings. However, his legal team will argue that Mr Haw be
left alone until the outcome of an appeal to the House of Lords
is known.
There have been a total of 12 convictions to date
under Section 132 of the SOCPA legislation which bans unauthorised
protests near Parliament. [C]
CONTACT & INFORMATION:
There will be a demonstration in support of Mr Haw outside the
Royal Courts of Justice from 9.30am.
For more information contact: info@parliament-square.org.uk,
www.parliament-square.org.uk
NOTES:
A. www.guardian.co.uk/print/0,,4515616-103690,00.html
B. www.guardian.co.uk/antiwar/story/0,,1539340,00.html
C. The provisions in question are sections 132-138
Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005. See www.parliamentprotest.org.uk
and www.parliament-square.org.uk/defendaction.htm for details
of protests against the new law and arrests.
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