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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Statement Of Brian Haw,
30/05/06, delivered to magistrate on 25 May 2006
Your Honor: Excuse me please. I do not agree with today s proceedings.
It is my opinion that:
1. I cannot make a plea today until I have received advanced
disclosure from the CPS or the police. I understand there
should
now be an itemized list of all items seized on the morning
of
Tuesday, 23rd May, 2006 from Parliament Square. I understand
that I
should be provided with a written documented list of each
individually tagged item.
2. Two black Bibles were also seized on the aforementioned
date. I
am requesting that they be rescinded into my care
immediately as I
have been fasting and praying for peace. They were gifts of
love
and compassion given to myself from dear friends to comfort
me - to
comfort us all. I believe that they convey the message that
a time
of peace shall come to pass - a promise by God. And as Mr.
Tony
Blair has been quoted in the paper yesterday as desiring to
commit
his faith to the Christian faith and the Roman Catholic
Church, I
am certain he can appreciate that this request is most
reasonable.
3. I am requesting the return of all personal property
required for
my living needs such as clothes to my permanent address as
recognized by the Royal High Court of Justice: Brian Haw,
Parliament Square, Westminster, London,
.
4. I am requesting to carry out a personal inspection,
today, in
the presence of my solicitor and/or barrister and an one
independent witness of my choice and that this inspection be
carried out and video recorded by an independent party to be
jointly agreed upon today, of all the admissible evidence
pertaining to today s proceedings which I assert is my
personal
property seized on the aforementioned date. I assert I have
just
cause to question what state any of it any of it is in due
to the
video-taped nature of the afore-mentioned seizure of said
property
from Parliament Square. I am also requesting to personally
re-locate the entirety of he afore mentioned admissible
evidence
to a location of my choice, and to commence removal within
forty-eight hours of today s date, with a person of my
choice, to
be jointly agreed upon today. I am requesting I be given
twenty
four hours to complete the relocation of afore mentioned
admissible
evidence.
5. I am requesting that all privileged confidential legal
documentation between my solicitor, my barrister and myself,
along
with tape-recorded and video-recorded and photographic
evidence be
returned immediately as I assert the legal documents were
illegally
seized. The police were told at the time of the seizure of
these
items that I believed that they had no legal right to take
these
items, by myself and others.
6. I personally have many questions
regarding the legalities and/or
illegalities pertaining to the continuation of these
proceedings.
Almost all of my evidence for not only this case, but many
other
cases and actions, pertaining to the police, has been seized
by
said police. It is somewhat ironic that the admissible
evidence in
question and privileged confidential legal documentation
pertaining to various on-going cases and actions against the present government
of England has been seized by force from Parliament square
in a dawn raid which, in my opinion was a
great
waste of the taxpayers monies and used somewhat excessive
force and
bullying tactics. I cannot see how this case can proceed for
if I
had stolen all the evidence from the CPS, they could not
have
possibly proceeded to trial for even a first hearing.
7. I am humbly requesting that I be treated fairly and
justly by
the courts of this land and allocated a minimum of 20 feet
to store
my admissible evidence of what I consider to be genocide by
this
government, as has been the approximate length of most prior
demonstrations, and to have the width also set as according
to that
of previous prior government authorised protests, as filmed
by the
City of Westminster which I am presently requesting of
yourself.
Lastly, I humbly request that the limitations set regarding
the
amount of people who may choose to show their support be
questioned
and be set in line with other government permitted protests
on
parliament square.
8. Your Honor, with all due respect is this Westminster
gate?
Anti copyright acknowledging Brian Haw
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