Brian Haw : The crushing of anti-war dissent in Parliament Square

by Deirdre Clancy - formerly Pitstop Ploughshares Wed Aug 22, 2007 23:03

I hope Brian Haw regains his freedom to keep vigil. He has had the courage and consistency to embody the righteous anger many feel but don't dare express in remotely as complete a way as he has done. He has truly put himself on the line. It seems that once he stopped being a voice in the wilderness and gained credibility and support, the authorities started to get worried. It was always thus.

He's been doing this for so long. How does he keep his good humour? It's an incredible achievement. How does he deal with all the bandwagon jumpers that he encounters? There must be plenty, though I'm sure the genuine support is great too. Fair play to him.

I wish him the best. And if the camp can't be reinstated, which I hope it can, I wish him ... well, I can't help wishing him a holiday and some joyful kick-back time, actually, at this point, strange as it may seem. I think it's important to remind oneself occasionally why human life is worth fighting for and shouldn't be disposed of with such casual cruelty. It must be hard at times to see the joy in things when you're constantly being harassed in your tent outside Parliament, though I'm sure he does manage to do so. Still, a quiet walk on a quiet beach might be just the ticket. With a dog. Or a child. Or perhaps both. Or maybe I'm just in awe of his capacity for endurance and can't quite figure out how he keeps going. I've had to take scores of quiet walks to remedy a lot less than what he's put up with. It's a lot easier in my book to decommission a plane and go to court on and off for a few years than to stay in a tent for over six years in what to me is a rather dreary part of London, dealing with all specimens of humanity in all weathers. I'm truly in awe.

by mag Mon Aug 20, 2007 20:00

for artist Mark Wallinger for re-creating Brian Haw's original protest display (destroyed by cops earlier), in the Tate Gallery.

by B.H.S. - (they're being as crass as ever - forgive the codeword) Sat Aug 18, 2007 22:34

Perhaps it's Brown's domestic homeland protest management & spin style.., Monbiot in Heathrow blathering on about the Evening Standard and anarchists eating babies & being an elder activist whilst Brian Haw is seen centre stage on yet another push to dig that trech in Westminster Square.
It's not Blairite that's for certain, we aren't witnessing original police tactics or widespread grassroot or other pickup on the events. Nor are we being forced to listen to crap slogans & buy records, (sorry CD's) of jaded bands - for making poverty history was last year. But out came the tripods for Heathrow and Britain's best and worst of protest pantomime dames strutt their stuff nonetheless, but maturely - for now they know they can't breach the fence or else they'll be shot.
We know they said so in their non-heirarchial assembly and the old-timers reported it to the gurgling commercial press. It is not the 1990's. It is not the weathermen. I hope Mr Haw perseveres - he is the Titus Andronicus of Westminster. But in truth, having seen those tripods given their launch, having rolled back the astroturf of that square, having squeezed my rude tongue & cocky juvenile rage through those cages - I can't see it making any difference if Mr Haw goes to the house of Lords or accepts Guinness Book of Records status & devotes his future life to lecturing the circuit.

oh lord won't you buy me a mercedes benz. my friends all have porsches, I need to make amends.

by Dunlo T. Sat Aug 18, 2007 17:22

Obscenity of obscenities ; It now seems that the ongoing attempt to crush the Peace Camp is in preparation for Nelson Mandela's visit?.

These photos were taken yesterday and yesterday evening

by Dunlo T. Sat Aug 18, 2007 17:00

Terence McSwiney's observation that; "It is not those who inflict the most, but those who endure the most who will prevail in the end" is true in Brian Haw's case, for his seven years of unrelenting endurance in Parliament Sq outs the non-democratic nature of the UK state, makes self evident where these bastards come from, milks their poison sacs and power hoses away the dunghill atop of which the war mongers crow "Democracy" and "Human Rights"?.

Last Summer, Brian eagerly participated in a protest by Irish anti-war activists during the ongoing criminal trial of the Pitstop Ploughshares over their wanton prosecution and persecution - as you know, they and justice prevailed in the end.

by Dunlo T. - Cosantoiri Siochana Sat Aug 18, 2007 16:23

Yesterday evening Brian and his supporters resurrected the peace camp in a very small patch of grass on Parliament Square. The huge fence around the square is being patrolled by 10 - 12 yellow jacketed people (not who they are employed by). Two posh cars and men in suits turned up, photographs were taken of the grassy area. Lots of discussions seemed to take place, no idea what they are up to... might be related to Nelson M's statue (text and photos from Indymedia UK)

View from inside Brian's tent

by Coilín Sat Aug 18, 2007 15:37

If the so-called "war on terrorism" is all about freedom and democracy, then any restrictions on the rights of demonstrators to protest outside parliament would be a victory to the terrorists.

If the invasion of Iraq was about removing a tyrant, then it would be a step backwards, a step in the direction of tyranny in the UK and the wider forum of western Europe to restrict the rights of demonstrators outside any parliament. Because democracy is about more than voting and then going home to slouch on a sofa by the TV. Democracy is also about public debate in the open forum, the physical space of cities. it would be a grave ideological blunder on the part of the lord mayor to interfere with the basic freedom to protest in public spaces - most particularly the public space outside parliament, which has an inalienable and indispensable political relevance.

If publicly funded and appointed managers of any city are to have any role in the running of a vibrant, healthy, happy, democratic city, then a key duty is not just to permit public expressions of political convictions, but to _actively strive_ to _facilitate them_. And if the city managers have public health issues - or health and safety issues - about any given demonstration, then they ought to consult with the demonstrators to ask how they, the city managers, can help to provide the necessary facilities to deal with such issues. This would be a good way to spend public monies. Doing the opposite is an abusive usurpation of power.

Keep up the good work of promoting freedom and democracy in the open forum _outside_ the houses of parliament.

Best,
Coilín.

by margaret silverman Fri Aug 17, 2007 17:34

This action shows the depth of Mayor Ken's, & the British Gov't's, commitment to free speech & democracy. Protest at this latest attempt to stifle criticism of the protests against the wars subsidised by UK taxpayers.