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
|
|
return to press
releases
PRESS RELEASE
29 May 2003
Brian Haw Parliament Square
peace protest is two years old
This weekend Brian Haw will be marking the
730th day of his permanent 24 hour peace vigil opposite the Houses
of Parliament in Parliament Square. This anniversary makes Mr Haw's
protest one of the longest-lasting individual public protest of
modern times.
When he started in June 2001, Mr Haw, a father
of seven from Worchestershire, had only a few signs bearing the
names of young children who had died as a result of economic sanctions
on Iraq. He supplemented these with carefully painted banners pointing
out to both the politicians and the public the huge suffering that
the sanctions policy, supported by the UK government supported,
inflicted on the people of Iraq.
Over the months, people began to visit him
and bring placards they themselves had made. With the events of
11 September 2001 and the declaration of the 'war on terrorism',
Brian's protest grew in size and reputation. He has had numerous
visitors from all over the world, many leaving placards with messages
of peace, helping to create what is now a powerful display which
challenges the government's foreign policy. The international media
have broadcast his message around the world in documentaries, news
reports and interviews.
In October 2002 he won a major legal victory
when the High Court refused to grant an injunction to Westminster
Council to remove him from Parliament Square. The judge ruled that
Mr Haw was exercising his right to freedom of speech and the pavement
obstruction was not unreasonable.
Mr Haw said, "I have
had the people of the world on this pavement. Peace is more popular
than Parliament."
He added "Contrary
to the hopes of the government that protest will end now that
the war on Iraq is said
to be over, I will not go away. Its not over for people in Iraq
- thousands more of the people are now dead and the occupiers are
still there. I feel so incensed - we are talking about dropping
bombs on people, on murdering people. Its not enough to say we
don't mean to - it doesn't make it alright. And the murderers are
allowed to profit from
their crimes. How can humanity, the world, allow this blatant smash and grab?
"They went ahead no
matter how much people protested and we are now being asked to
just accept it. I can't
accept it. Here is a picture of a little girl with the back of
her head blown off. All you have to do is put yourself in the place
of this girl's parents. They will never thank us for 'liberating'
them. And now we have 'saved' them, we are selling them water."
|
