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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http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,3604,1213337,00.html
Stalwart
anti-war protester arrested
The Guardian,
Monday May 10, 2004
An anti-war protester who has been camped outside the Houses
of Parliament for nearly three years was arrested today and his
vast protest display dismantled.
Brian Haw, 55, was arrested at around midnight on suspicion
of obstruction and assaulting a police officer after refusing
to move, police said.
He had refused to leave the area after being asked to do so
by police investigating a security alert posed by a car parked
nearby. Officers later spoke to the owners of the car and the
security alert passed.
Today the protester was being held at Charing Cross police station
in London.
A Scotland Yard spokesman said: "Police
dealing with an abandoned vehicle at the Houses of Parliament
just before midnight
arrested a man for obstruction and assault on a police officer.
The man had refused to move from the area when asked to do so
for his own safety."
The spokesman refused to confirm the name of the arrested protester
but it was understood to be Mr Haw.
Mr Haw, from Redditch, Worcestershire, has previously claimed
that attempts to force him to end his anti-war vigil have been
politically motivated.
However, a police source insisted that his
placards, including one which says "stop killing my kids", were taken away
for "safekeeping" until the matter was settled.
The source said: "The Met respects his
right to protest and it is not an attempt to stop him protesting.
Once this matter
has been concluded, he is free to return if he wishes to."
One of Mr Haw's supporters, Emma Sangster,
said: "After
his arrest, the suspect car was almost immediately identified
to be posing no threat and the security cordon lifted.
"Subsequent to his arrest, and despite
there being no longer any current security concerns, the remaining
officers removed
all of Mr Haw's possessions and protest placards from the site."
She claimed they had "even commandeered a passing WH Smith
news lorry to effect the removal".
Mr Haw, who is married and the father of seven children, first
settled down in Parliament Square in June 2001 initially calling
for an end to sanctions against Iraq and then later demonstrating
about the war.
In October last year, Westminster Council failed in an attempt
to evict him after a high court judge, Mr Justice Gray, refused
to grant an injunction restraining him from obstructing the pavements
with his placards.
In March, Mr Haw, who sleeps on the pavement under a plastic
sheet, resisted attempts by police to force him to scale down
his protest due to fears terrorists could plant bombs under his
placards.
At the time, he said: "This is a terrorism-free
zone. I don't allow terrorism here. I'm here to stop all terrorism
whether
it's small backpacks in Madrid or big bombs from a B52."
Mr Haw's solicitor, Michael Schwarz, said: "Brian
Haw is peacefully campaigning on perhaps the most significant
issue
of the day at a place which is supposed to be the very heart
of our democracy.
"It is difficult to think of a more
compelling example of the deployment of the rights to protest."
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