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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return to defend protest
page
Mon 7 Feb 2005
MPs Protest at Westminster Demo
Curbs
By Trevor Mason and Nick Mead, PA Political
Staff
Ministers came under fire tonight over proposed
restrictions on demonstrations outside Parliament.
Junior Home Office minister Caroline Flint said
protesters should have to give six days’ notice of demonstrations
to the Metropolitan Police.
The Metropolitan Police Commissioner was then entitled
to place conditions on the protest if he considered it a threat
to Parliament’s work.
But Labour and Liberal Democrat MPs said the tighter
rules were aimed at ending the long-running anti-war campaign
being waged by Brian Haw.
Mr Haw’s three and a half year round-the-clock
peace protest and encampment opposite the Palace of Westminster
has enraged some MPs, while drawing praise from others.
The restrictions proposed in the Serious Organised
Crime and Police Bill follow months of noisy demonstrations outside
Parliament and violent protests involving pro-hunt supporters.
As the debate got under way dozens of demonstrators
protested noisily in support of Mr Haw in Parliament Square.
Ms Flint said existing legislation did not provide
the police with the powers they needed to control protests around
Parliament. She denied ministers were trying to prevent free speech.
Labour’s Jeremy Corbyn (Islington N) warned
the minister to think carefully before “removing rights
enshrined in history”.
Liberal Democrat Lembit Opik (Montgomeryshire) asked
how the Government could justify curtailing the freedom of free
speech for everyone, simply because they felt “uncomfortable
about one individual’s determination to exercise that right”.
And SNP leader Alex Salmond asked how a possible
fine of £5,000 for using an unauthorised loudspeaker could
be proportionate.
Labour former minister Glenda Jackson said the legislation
was aimed at “silencing one particular protester,”
adding: “Far from attempting to silence him, every MP should
be extremely proud we live in a society where he can continue
with his concerns.”
But support for the restrictions came from senior
Tory Sir Patrick Cormack (S Staffordshire) who said the lives
of people working at Westminster had been made “intolerable
by these people baying away”.
Ms Flint said that when notice of a demonstration
was correctly given, the Commissioner “must authorise the
demonstration”.
But he could place conditions on it to prevent hindrance
to MPs, or the risk of serious public disorder.
“I think these conditions are very helpful,”
she told the House.
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