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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releases
PRESS RELEASE
17 May 2004
PARLIAMENT SQUARE PEACE CAMPAIGNER DENOUNCES POLICE DEMOLITION
OF 3 YEAR PROTEST SITE, ON EVE OF COURT APPEARANCE
Tuesday 18 May, 10am: Brian Haw, the Parliament Square peace
protestor, who has spent almost 3 years in a continuous anti-war
protest vigil opposite the Houses of Parliament (1), will be
appearing at Bow Street Magistrates Court.
Mr Haw was arrested and his extensive protest display removed
in a sudden midnight police operation on 10 May. The police claimed
there was a security threat in the area and said that a security
cordon had been imposed. When Mr Haw refused to move he was arrested.
He sustained wrist injuries while being put into a police van.
Despite the supposed security threat the police van did not leave
the scene for some time and, just after Mr Haw's arrest, the
suspect car was almost immediately identified to be posing no
threat and the security cordon lifted.
The remaining officers removed all of Mr Haw's protest placards
from the site. Mr Haw was released from police custody a few
hours later and his placards and banners were returned later
and left in a pile on the pavement.
Mr Haw was charged with failing to leave a cordoned area and
with common assault, for which no evidence of physical injury
is needed.
In March this year the police told Mr Haw and his solicitor,
leading human rights solicitors
Bindmans, that they were seeking to remove him from Parliament
Square but were not able to say which legislation they would
employ. This followed a landmark High Court ruling which found
in favour of Mr Haw and his right to protest on the site (2).
Mr Haw's solicitor has made a complaint about the incident and
the destruction of the display. He has requested that an enquiry
be carried out as to how the police action came to be taken.
Mr Haw said, "They have tried to find legal ways of removing
me and that failed. Now they are resorting to this. I am waiting
for the police to come and record the scene of a crime. When
some of my placards were removed before, I got compensation and
an apology from the police, so they recognise that it can't be
right. Look at the damage and destruction that has occurred here – it
shows the contempt with which the deaths of innocents in Iraq
are held. They have taken images of injured and dead Iraqi children
and trashed them.
"Is it a coincidence that on the very
morning of the police action, the Chinese premier was visiting
the UK for talks with
Tony Blair, who was already having trouble defending his own
human rights record in Iraq?"
Notes
1. Brian Haw has been in Parliament Square continuously since
1st June 2001 in protest
against the US/UK support of economic sanctions in Iraq, the
invasion of Iraq and the ‘war on terror’.
2. On 4th October 2002 Westminster City Council's High Court
proceedings against him for obstruction of the highway were dismissed
on the grounds that Brian was exercising his freedom of expression
and assembly under the Human Rights Act.
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