Clare - Event Notice
Thursday January 01 1970

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

clare | anti-war / imperialism | event notice

Wednesday February 05, 2014 23:17

by shannon-watch

A large peace demonstration will take place in Shannon on Sunday February 9th from 2pm to 3pm. The demonstration is being held in opposition to the U.S. military use of the airport, and in solidarity with imprisoned peace activist Margaretta D'Arcy.

Margaretta has taken a stand against the ongoing participation of Shannon Airport in war. She normally attends monthly peace vigils at Shannon, but she has now been locked up by the State as a result of her principled stand against the unimpeded movement of U.S. military aircraft and personnel through Shannon.

Shannonwatch is calling on people all over Ireland to show their support for Margaretta and her opposition to Irish complicity in war, by coming to Shannon on Sunday February 9th.

A 2013 Red C poll commissioned by the Peace & Neutrality Alliance showed that 78% of Irish people support a policy of Irish neutrality. Despite this, and despite a commitment in the 2011 Programme for Government to "enforce the prohibition on the use of Irish airspace, airports and related facilities for purposes not in line with the dictates of international law", our current government refuses to end the US military use of Shannon Airport, or to investigate the landing of rendition planes there over several years.

On Sunday 9th February Irish people can send a strong message to the government: End Irish involvement in wars that continue to cause the loss of countless lives, worsening humanitarian crises and global insecurity.

Travel Arrangements

For people in Dublin, the Peace and Neutrality Alliance (PANA) are arranging a bus to Shannon for the demonstration, leaving from Liberty Hall at 10.00am. The booking deadline is Wednesday 5th of February at 5.00pm. Anyone who is interested can email info@pana.ie or phone 087 2611597.

For people in Galway, Galway Alliance Against War (GAAW) is also organising transport to Shannon. Those who are interested in traveling are asked to phone 087 9159787.

Anyone planning to organise transport or to provide lifts from other parts of the country should contact Shannonwatch on 087 8225087 so that others can be told about the arrangements.

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Comments (4 of 4)

Video from Protest at Shannon Airport 9/2/2014

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: Video Id: 86370040 Type: Vimeo
Protesters focus on the 3rd week of Margaretta D

Large Turnout at Demonstration in Shannon

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.