Bush protests update, 22 June

national | anti-war / imperialism | news report Tuesday June 22, 2004 01:40 by Fintan Lane - Anti-War Ireland info at antiwarireland dot org 087 1258325

Care/act

Contents

1. Introduction
2. Objectives And Guidelines For Shannon Demonstration
3. Buses/Transport
4. Other Demonstrations On Friday Evening
5. Demonstrations On Saturday
6. Cork Solidarity Rally
7. Vigil At U.s. Embassy In Dublin

INTRODUCTION

George W. Bush is coming to Ireland in a few days time and it is essential that we make our voices heard against his presence and against his belligerent foreign policy while he is here.

Anti-War Ireland, a broad-based national alliance of anti-war groups, intends to hit the ground running and we aim to ensure that Bush is faced with a mass peaceful protest as soons as he touches down on Irish soil.

Bush arrives at Shannon airport at 8.15pm on Friday, 25th June. An Anti-War Ireland demonstration will assemble at 7pm in Shannon town centre before marching to the airport to unwelcome him as he lands. It is crucial that the first thing he and his entourage meet when they touch down is a large anti-war demonstration, and we are appealing to you to get to Shannon town centre for 7pm on Friday evening. There will be Garda checkpoints on the road into Shannon, so please allow extra time in order to ensure you are there for 7pm.

Try to bring other people along! This is an important march and it is essential that everybody make a special effort to attend. This warmonger is not a frequent visitor to our shores and we want to ensure that he leaves knowing that the global anti-war movement will dog him wherever he goes.

We also want to send a strong message to the Irish government by highlighting the continued misuse of an Irish civilian airport for US military purposes. Shannon airport remains integrated into the US war machine, despite the opposition of a clear majority in this country. Irish complicity with US warmongering must end, and the demonstration on Friday night will be as much about this complicity as about the presence of Bush.

Apart from those who will travel from across the country, the march will include many Shannon residents who have recently organised to make their own protest against Bush and against the heavy security presence in their town. We will march together in a spirit of peace and solidarity. Be there!

Anti-War Ireland encourages all opponents of Bush and war to exercise our democratic right to assembly and protest at Shannon. Remember: Shannon town centre (Lidls carpark), 7pm, Friday evening. Everybody counts.

Care/act



OBJECTIVES AND GUIDELINES FOR THE DEMONSTRATION

Anti-War Ireland offers the following guidelines for the demonstration on Friday 25th June:

1. The protest is intended to be a non-confrontational march. While Anti-War Ireland supports peaceful resistance to war, we would advise any protestors considering the use of non-violent direct action on this occasion to clearly separate themselves from the main body of the march.

2. Please protest in a peaceful manner.

3. Please avoid drunkenness.

4. Please be aware of the large police/army/secret-service presence beyond that immediately visible.

5. Do not engage in any action that may endanger other protestors.

With one week to go, Anti-War Ireland calls on opponents of war to get ready to give Bush the “unwelcome” he deserves, and to once again impress upon the Fianna Fáil/Progressive Democrat government that refuelling of US military warplanes at Shannon Airport is illegal, immoral and unacceptable.

Further information from 087 1258325



BUSES/TRANSPORT:

Many people will be travelling by car or public transport, but for buses from the main cities contact the following.

Dublin: phone 087 7939931.

Cork: Buses leaving from the Opera House at 3.30pm sharp. Phone 086 1908281 or 087 1258325 for details.

Galway: Bus leaving from the Quad (NUI Galway) at 3pm sharp. E10 return. Phone 086 0789050 for details.



OTHER DEMONSTRATIONS ON FRIDAY EVENING

If you absolutely cannot make it to Shannon then please do attend one of the other anti-Bush demonstrations that will be held at 7pm that evening in Waterford, Sligo, Tralee, Dublin and Galway. For more information visit the following websites:

www.antiwarireland.org
www.irishantiwar.org
www.dontcountusin.com
www.ambush2004.org


DEMONSTRATIONS ON SATURDAY

Two demonstrations will be held in County Clare on Saturday, 26th June. The IAWM and Stop Bush Campaign will be assembling close to Dromoland at 9am, while AmBush2004 (supported by Anti-War Ireland) will be holding a 'parade for peace' from Bunratty to Shannon to say good riddance to Bush as he leaves the country.

Buses for the AmBush event are running from Galway and Cork. Details are as follows:

Galway: Leaving from the Quad (NUI Galway) at 9am. Phone 085 7364536 for details.

Cork: Leaving from the Opera House at 9am. Phone 086 1908281 or 087 1258325 for details.



CORK SOLIDARITY RALLY

A solidarity anti-war rally will be held in Cork on Saturday morning. Assembling at 11am on Daunt Square. Organised by the Cork Anti-War Campaign.



VIGIL FOR PEACE AT THE US EMBASSY IN DUBLIN

Anti-war activists will hold an 18-hour overnight peace vigil at the US embassy in Ballsbridge, Dublin, for the duration of Bush's stay in Ireland. So far those participating are Fintan Lane, convenor of Anti-War Ireland (currently banned from County Clare), and Deirdre Clancy, of Anti-War Ireland, Catholic Workers' Movement and the Pitstop Ploughshares (currently banned from within five miles of Shannon airport). More details from 086 1512013.

BULLETIN ENDS