Irish Anti-War Movement People's Assembly

national | anti-war / imperialism | event notice Thursday July 01, 2004 15:22 by DL - IAWM

After Bush-where now for the anti-war movement

This Saturday 3rd July
2pm until 5pm
Liberty Hall, Eden Quay (Opposite Tara St Dart Station)

All welcome

The Irish Anti-War Movement has organised a people's assembly for this Saturday at two pm in liberty hall, Dublin. The assembly will be discussing issues like the aftermath of the Bush visit, the current situation in Iraq and building the anti-war movement in Irelad. Despite Bertie Ahern claiming Shannon was a 'dead issue' the demand for 'US military out of Shannon now' has massive support. There will also be an introduction about the European Social Forum (ESF) which will take place in London in October. Last year over 60,000 attended the ESF in Paris and the international anti-war movement was a central aspect to it.

IAWM Update of STOP BUSH weekend

The message was loud and clear - bush the war criminal wasn't welcome to Ireland and Bertie Ahern his accomplice does not represent the people on this Island. The entire weekend was a massive success for the anti-war movement. From the minute Bush landed to the last second he left there were protests. On Friday night there hundreds on the streets of Waterford, Tralee, Shannon, Roscommon and Sligo while an incredible number of 3,000 marched in Galway. The Dublin demonstration was attended by almost 30,000. On Saturday morning over 2,000 rallied at Dromoland Castle and then again at Shannon Airport while George Bush was leaving. The demonstrations were a show of unity and strength. There were thousands of colourful placards, flags, chants and energy sending a clear signal to Ahern and Bush-that we don't want war and we will continue to protest and build this movement until the occupations of Iraq, Afghanistan, Palestine etc end and our country is no longer used by US military as a landing base.

The demonstrations forced the issue of Iraq and the lies of Ahern and Bush to be the main topic at the Summit. The demonstrations also received a lot of coverage in the United States. There is no doubt but that the images of thousands of Irish protesting at Bush's visit will impact negatively on his re-election possibilities.

However Ahern said that the issue of the use of Shannon by US Military was a 'dead issue' and a matter of history! Such a cheek and hypocrisy. Ahern said he was with us on February 15th last year! His support of Bush and the new Iraqi regime at the Summit shows who's side he is really on. He lied just like Bush and continues to lie over the use of Shannon for transport of prisoners to Guantanamo Bay. There was a clear feeling from the weekend that we must continue to pressure Ahern and the government until they are forced to stop allowing the US use Shannon as a military stop-over. The anti-war assembly this weekend will have that issue as its focus. After letting Bush and the world know how we are against the war we now must turn to our own government and build the movement here. That's what the assembly on Saturday will be about. We hope you can make it along Saturday at two pm in Liberty Hall, Eden Quay, Dublin 1. For info ring 086 1523542 or check out the website at www.irishantiwar.org