Protest Rally at Shannon - Against the U.S. Military Presence, In Solidarity with Margaretta D'Arcy

by Robin Wallace - CelticVideo.com Sun Feb 09, 2014 19:29

Hello. I produced a video of this Sundays Shannon Airport Protest. I hope you enjoy it.

by wageslave Sun Feb 09, 2014 19:39

Hey, Robin,
Thanks for posting that

rgds
Wageslave

by shannon-watch Thu Feb 13, 2014 21:35

A crowd of 100 or more people turned out today in Shannon to demand an end to the U.S. military use of the airport. People travelled from Dublin, Galway, Cork and elsewhere to join locals for the regular monthly demonstration against the airport's complicity in war and human rights violations. This month's event had special significance as it called for the immediate release of peace activist Margaretta D'Arcy whose principled stand against the shameful misuse of Shannon has resulted in her imprisonment by the State.

The crowd included former UN Assistant Secretary General Denis Halliday, TD's Mick Wallace and Clare Daly, and Senator Trevor Ó Clochartaigh (Sinn Fein). It also included Vietnam veteran Joseph Bangert who addressed the crowd, and expressed U.S. solidarity with Margaretta and everyone protesting at Shannon.

Meanwhile the airport was being used by a U.S. Navy C-9 aircraft (the military version of the McDonnell Douglas DC-9). The U.S. Navy, which is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces, is allowed to use Shannon routinely without any oversight or reporting of what they are transporting.

As always at these peaceful gatherings, an Garda Siochana blocked demonstrators from going into the airport. One Garda who was particularly concerned about people walking in front of the traffic leaving the airport claimed he was doing so because he was concerned about protecting human life. When asked why he wasn't doing something to protect the lives being put at risk by the U.S. forces at the airport behind him, he just shrugged and said "Talk to the sergeant".

This abdication of responsibility is at odds with the solemn declaration made by each Garda to faithfully discharge his/her duties "with fairness, integrity, regard for human rights, diligence and impartiality, upholding the Constitution and the laws and according equal respect to all people". In particular, the willingness of police of every rank to turn a blind eye to known or suspected rendition aircraft is a shameful reflection on the integrity of the force.

On the other hand, Margaretta D'Arcy has shown unwavering integrity by insisting that she will continue to highlight Shannon's complicity in serious wrongdoing. Her imprisonment has brought renewed media attention to the misuse of the airport, but it should not take the imprisonment of a conscientious 79 year old for the media to finally pay attention to serious wrongdoing. There are matters of huge national and international media to finally pay attention to serious wrongdoing. There are matters of huge national and international significance that should be given greater coverage - matters like the destruction of a long standing policy of Irish neutrality, the illegality of unilateral military actions not sanctioned by the UN, and the failure of the Irish authorities to uphold ratified human rights treaties.

Towards the end of today's demonstration, the assembled crowd listened to John Maguire sing his composition, Margaretta's Ballad. The event finished soon after with the fixing of yellow ribbons to trees and the airport perimeter fence as a symbol of peace and solidarity with Margaretta.

And all the while the Gardai "protected" the airport from the people who want to put an end to the global war industry.

by shannon-watch Thu Feb 20, 2014 23:04

Video from Protest at Shannon Airport 9/2/2014 from Connolly Media Group

Video is at http://vimeo.com/86370040

Other videos from Connolly Media Group at http://vimeo.com/connollymediagroup

Caption: Protesters focus on the 3rd week of Margaretta D