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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'STATE BRITAIN' - Brian at the Tate
On Monday 15
January 2007, Tate Britain in London unveiled a major
art commission by the renowned artist Mark Wallinger.
The show, entitled 'State Britain',
consists of a recreation in all its glorious detail
of the entirely to Brian's display just before it was dismantled
and removed by 78 police officers on 23 May 2006.
See
here for details from the Tate website
- including images of exhibition and of the entirety
of Brian's
display before it was dismantled
See here
for press articles, images and film about State Britain
Over 600
items have been remade, refound and amassed - banners,
placards, posters, peace flags, newspaper articles,
photo displays, messages from supporters, teddy bears
wearing peace-slogan t-shirts, and all the items needed
for Brian and supporters to stay in Parliament Square.
The effects of the weather and environment on the items
has been recreated to make a facsimile as faithful
in every detail as possible.
The display
is situated in the Duveen Galleries which run from
front to back
of Tate Britain - a large, vaulted space of classical proportions
from which
all the galleries are entered.
Tate Britain
is situated exactly on the boundary of the 1km zone
around
Parliament which forms the extent of any potential 'designated
area' or
protest exclusion zone around Parliament although the designated
area as
it is currently defined is slightly smaller. Indeed, the
edge of this exclusion
zone actually bisects the gallery and Brian's display within
it and a line is
drawn on the floor to mark that. |
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Fabrication of State
Britain. Photo: Michelle Sadgrove at Mike Smith Studio. |
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Mark Wallinger
State Britain 2006
Photos: Sam Drake © Tate 2006
See Tate
website for more images. |
Its been taken away from the
public by the police because of the nonsense of the new
act that prohibits
unauthorised protest within the exclusion zone, the perimiter
of which runs right through Tate Britain. I have recreated
the display as it was in the early of 23 May because
it is an important document and people should see it.
Mark Wallinger, BBC London, 15 Jan 07
Look in the face of your beloved, your baby,
child, mother, father, sister, brother, spouse, betrothed,
your kin, life and heartbeat. Keep their image in your
mind when you go to Tate Britain and see what Mark Wallinger
and all those with big hearts are displaying. This is for
everyone everywhere, for faith, hope, sweet charity. For
peace.
Brian Haw after viewing State Britain,
14 Jan 07
STATE BRITAIN by Mark Wallinger
Duveen Galleries Commission 2007
15 January - 27 August 2007
Tate Britain, Duveen Galleries
Open every day 10.00-17.50
Admission free
For information number: 020 7887 8888 |
4 Mar 07: Watch The
South Bank Show on the artist Mark
Wallinger - featuring Brian and the recreation of his
display for the State Britain show at Tate
Britain. See
here.
3 Dec 07: Mark
Wallinger wins Turner Prize 2007. Congratulations
to Mark for winning the prize, as he says, 'for State
Britain'. See
the Channel 4 report. |
Brian and supporters have been assisting the artist and the
Tate in this
project and are very pleased with the result. They will be attending
an
opening reception tonight at the Tate.
Amongst many interesting aspects to the recreation
of the display, it is
significant that the original lies locked up in a police container
while a
perfect replica has been lovingly recreated - paying homage to
Brian and
all those who contributed material to his display and proving
that you can't
keep such a good and honest expression down. Indeed, the contribution
of
supporters to Brian's campaign is
really made clear - something
that Brian himself is always aware of and grateful for.
The show will be on until the end of August.
From the Tate's press release:
"
In bringing back into the public domain a reconstruction of Haw’s
protest
before its curtailment, Wallinger raises challenging questions
about issues
of freedom of expression and the erosion of civil liberties in
Britain today."
"Since the mid-1980s Wallinger’s primary concern
has been to establish a
valid critical approach to the ‘politics of representation
and the
representation of politics’ and has often explored issues
of the
responsibilities of individuals and those of society in his work.
He was
shortlisted for the Turner Prize in 1995 and represented Britain
at the 49th
Venice Biennale in 2001."
Media articles about State Britain
The guilty conscience of the West: Iraq and
the art of war
The Independent, 17 January 2007
Wallinger's modern art of protesting
The Telegraph,
17 Januray 2007
includes a slideshow of images and video of the installation
The fine art of free speech
The Telegraph, 16 Januray
2007
includes a slideshow of images and video
of the installation
Bears against
bombs
The Guardian, 16 January 2007
includes a slideshow of images
Tate's anti-war display crosses legal line into
no-protest zone
The Guardian, January 16, 2007
The State we are in
Evening Standard, 16 January 2007
Tate work puts law to test
Channel 4 News, 15 January
2007
includes film of item as it appeared
on the news
SOCPA
- Brian Haw's full display rises like a pheonix
Indymedia, 15 Jan 07
includes lots of photos
Anti-war campaigner comes to Tate
BBC News, 15 January 2007
Protest
camp now £90,000 Tate show
Evening Standard 15.01.07
Wallinger
Turns Iraq Protest Into Bold Installation at Tate
Jan. 15 2007 (Bloomberg)
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