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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Commons exclusion zone to ban protesters
By Andrew Sparrow Political Correspondent, The Telegraph,
June 16, 2005
CHARLES Clarke was accused of showing contempt
for democracy yesterday after it emerged that he wants to restrict
the right to demonstrate near Parliament.
Opposition MPs spoke out after they discovered he
is using powers under the erious
Organised Crime and Police Act, to create a half-mile "exclusion
zone" around the House of Commons. Under the Act, which was
passed last year, the Home Secretary has the power to create an
exclusion zone stretching up to a 1,000 yards from Parliament.
The measure was included in the Act because MPs
wanted to get rid of a noisy peace protester, Brian Haw, whose
one-man vigil outside the gates of the Commons was considered
a nuisance.
But, as a map released to MPs has revealed, Mr Clarke
has decided to use his owers almost to the full. Once the legislation
comes into force on August 1, people will only be allowed to stage
demonstrations in the zone if they obtain permission in advance.
The police will be able to set stringent conditions, such as a
half-hour time limit. People who demonstrate inside the zone without
permission could be arrested.
David Davis, the shadow home secretary, said: "This
plan was sold as a way of dealing with the eyesore created by
Brian Haw's protest. It is now being used to exclude peaceful
protest, far beyond what was originally intended. This is a contempt
of Parliament and a contempt of people's right to protest."
Mark Oaten, the Liberal Democrat home affairs spokesman,
said: "Preventing people from freely voicing their opinions
outside Parliament was bad enough.
''What possible justification can there be for banning
spontaneous demonstrations across such a wide area?"
The exclusion zone will cover Whitehall, a large
area of Westminster and parts of the South Bank, including the
London Eye. Trafalgar Square, a traditional venue for rotests,
is not included.
The Home Office said the exclusion zone boundaries
had been drawn up in consultation with Scotland Yard, taking into
account the powers within the Act and security risks.
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