Pit Stop Ploughshares re-trial Day 1
national |
anti-war / imperialism |
news report 
Wednesday July 05, 2006 13:12
by Madam K
On a bright Sunny morning over 30 people gathered in O'Connell Street to join the solidarity procession to the Four Courts in support of the the Five Pitstop Ploughshare defendants. A Solemn single file set of led by the defendents. At the Four Courts Carmen Trotter from NYC Catholic Workers and Ciaron O'Reilly addressed the crowd prior to entering Court 24 for the Jury selection. People were encouraged to maintain a vigil outside the courts to draw attention to the injustice of the Iraq war and Irish complicity in this. As I left most of the people were still there highlighting the Court case and people are encouraged to join as and when they are free to. The Morning Vigil will be a daily occurence gathering 8.30 a.m onwards at the Spire, O'Connell Street.
Ciaron O'Reilly adressed the crowd stating 'This is our Third Ploughsharers Trial, the (justice) system here is designed to isolate you, demoralise you ,defeat you and utlamately get you to recant from any resistance to it, and, the only anti venom we have is the sense of community and solidarity and one of the things that touches me today is the pluralism of our movement of budhist and catholic, agnostic and atheist, pagan, socialists and anarchist and people with all different hairstyles , all different musical tastes...and they want us to be very uniform, they want us to be consumers they do not want us to be active citizens we feel that we have acted of conscious. Now it is up to the conscious of the community; the jury. One of our last jury members is here today having been touched by our testimony to see how their act of conscience resonates with theirs (the jury) what is running in aberrance. between these two consciousness is a legal system that trys to take all act out of consciousness...'
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diverse crowd gather in solidarity
thats what it`s all about
Is this the re-re-trial or the re-re-re-trial ? last one let`s hope !
Today was meant to mark the first day of the third (yes, the third) trial of the Pitstop Ploughshares five for their decommissioning of a US warplane in Shannon airport in February 2003. The last trial was aborted when it was revealed that the judge had close links to the Republican party in the United States and had been invited to George W. Bush's inauguration.
The trial today was a bit of a non-starter as no judge was immediately available to hear the case. Consequently, it will now begin properly next Monday morning when a judge will definitely be appointed.
Solidarity remains crucial, so it is important that people continue with the events they have planned and consider more solidarity actions/events as the trial progresses.
Remember: Assemble at Spire - if you are available - at 8.30am each morning of the trial to join the five in their walk to the Four Courts to face their accusers. If you can't be there, find other ways to express your solidarity. Bear in mind that these five anti-war activists took non-violent action to save lives in Iraq and now face possible long terms of imprisonment.
Care/act
http://www.indymedia.ie/article/77030
Ploughshares Support will maintain an anti-war vigil at the GPO Thursday & Friday this week. Drop by and meet defendants, local & international anti-war activists.
The Judge stated that a trial judge, jury sleection & commencement of trial will defnitely begin on Monday July 10th.
The Ploughshares have a meeting tonight (Wed July 5th.) on "Ireland, Guantanomo & Ireland" at the Teachers Club.
See link below for more information......
http://www.indymedia.ie/article/76907
some pics from on the way to trial (sorry about the quality...they're from a video camera...)
More radom pics
More...
....
Short 1: 1 minute video (Windows media format...about 3 megs...sorry about format/size..) at:
http://www.donegalsos.com/interview.wmv
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Short 2: 2 min video (Windows media format...about 6 megs...sorry about format/size..) at:
http://www.donegalsos.com/waytocourt.wmv
Twelve of us (very biblical), including a group of Canadians who are helping us out,
had a spirited vigil at the Irish Embassy today. I had an encounter with a
representative of the Embassy who seemed quite nervous, especially when I
told her about how US warplanes being refueled at Shannon en route to
Iraq is in violation of the Irish Constitution. I also asked if she was
aware of your trial today and she said she was. At least five Secret Service
officers were on the scene.A friend took some digital photos and will send them soon. I don't have
the technology to do it.
Keep up the great work there.
We keep our eyes on the prize and hold on!
In Christ's peace,
Art
the first day.
Three Unmanageable Amigas
Very Unmanageable Revolt Video Person
Peace People And Friends
That Ain't A War Drum
for now.
Man 'n Chains
Prison Services Vans Awaiting Passengers
Damien Puts His Best Foot Forward
After Court Update
Wed evening we had two excellent contributions from Carmen Trotta of the New York Catholic Worker community (living & working at 36 East First St. NYC hospitality house for the homeless since 1989) & Teresa Grady recently released from Federal Prison in the U.S. for the occupation of a militray recruitment centre in Ithaca, upstate New York on St. Patricks Day 2003 www.stpatricksfour.org
Carmen, a former national organiser with the anarcho-pacifist War Resisters League, (he saw the 2nd World Trade Centre fall from the top of the building where the WRL is located, his neighborhood was then occupied by the military and he went on to organise the peace movement's first anniversaty memorial for the victims killed int he terror attacks) gave a lecture updating the U.S. military occupation on Iraq.
Teresa spoke of sister Clare still , her brother-in-law Vietnam vet Peter DeMott & friend Danny Burns all still in custody. She spoke of growing up in the Catholic Worker nonviolent resistance during the Vietnam War. Her father's involvement in the draft board raids of the '60's & '70's that destroyed thousands of draft cards. His pursuit by the FBI. She spoke of the St. Pat's 4 action, trial (& citizens tribunal that surrounded it) & her recent imprisonment.
Both Carmen & Teresa shared of their recent walk to Guantonomo.
The audio of the evening should be posted up here soon.
We caught the last 20 minutes of a pretty dire World Cup semi final and stayed on for drinks in the Teachers Club. the group that gathered for the evening included Irish, Iranian, Japanese, Cockneys, Australians, Americans, Catholics, athiests, Buddhists, Scots, punks, socialists. To keep this community gathering and growing around the trial.
We've decided to go to the movies!!!!!
If you'd like to join us at the Screen Cinema for
"The Wind that Shakes the Barley" ,
showing at 8.15pm to night (Thursday)
your most welcome.
>> Link to photos:
http://www.fujicolor.com.au/en/Album/Cover.asp?A=981795...hotos
>> Link to some Australian press coverage
http://www.cathnews.com/news/607/30.php
http://www.smh.com.au/news/National/Aussie-peace-activi....html
http://www.greenleft.org.au/back/2006/674/674p21b.htm
Ciaron O'Reilly's parents at solidarity vigil in Brisbane
http://www.fujicolor.com.au/en/Photo/View.asp?P=162453598#
Sean O'Reilly, elder brother of Ciaron, addresses solidarity vigil at Scales of Justice statue, Brisbane
http://www.fujicolor.com.au/en/Photo/View.asp?P=162453619
Gary MacLennan, Brisbane activist & academic, originally from Omagh addresses solidarity vigil
http://www.fujicolor.com.au/en/Photo/View.asp?P=162453549
Adele Goldie, awaiting trial in Alice Springs for Citizens Inspeaction of Pine CIA/NSA Base vigils
http://www.fujicolor.com.au/en/Photo/View.asp?P=162453633
Queensland police were waiting as 24 people gathered at St. Mary's Church, Ciaron regularly attends when he's home. Folks included his parents Garret (from County Offaly) & Mary, elder brother Sean & many old friends of varioius faith & political traditions from his activist days in Brisbane in the '70's, '80's & '90's. The peace walk in to the Scales of Justice statue in the city centre had a police escort
Gary MacLennan, originally from Omagh & the Briz activist scene in the '70's, got up and delivered a great speech reminding us all of some recent deaths at the hands of soldiers of innocent Iraqi families. Then a friend who had written a poem thinking about the Ploughshares trial read this out. Aboriginal solidarity activist Sister Kaye McPadden, of the Jospehite order & Irish diaspora, spoke about the three leaves on the shamrock and how this left room for a third path to be taken. Sean O'Reilly, who has shared many a jail cell & police raid with Ciaron, also spoke. Sean recently beat a charge in Alice Springs for obstructing Federal officers following the Citizens Inspeaction at Pine Gap. Adele Goldie awating trial in Alice Springs for the inspection was present at the vigil.
www.pinegap6.org
We lit candles and then all went our separate ways.
Later that night Queensland won the (Rugby League) State of Origin series. So not a bad day really.
With this win at Sean's in Alice, let's pray for hat trick at the ploughshares trial in Dublin!
The community coming together around the Pit Stopp Ploughshares trial continues to build as actvists arrive from the United States, Australia, England, Galway & Cork to mix & mingle with local anti-war activists. A dozen anti-war activists were present yesterday (Thurs.) at the 12noon anti-war vigil at the GPO and 20 gathered to see Ken Loach's fine film "The Wind that Shook the Barley" last night at the Screen Cinema.
The vigil ends with a circle where we remember the war dead in silence & then update each other with recent developments from wars on Iraq, Afghanistan & Palestine. We then go around the circle & update on recent nonviolent resistance to the wars and raise 7 delegate tasks of organising solidarity around the trial of the Pit Stop Ploughshares. The vigil becomes an organsing hub as supporters drop by to be updated, offer accomodaytion for visiting activists & take leaflets to be copied & distributed at work or their locality.
OUR PLANS FOR THE NEXT FEW DAYS.....
Friday July 7th.
*12noon-2pm *Anti-War Vigil at GPO on the first anniversary of the attack on the London tube system.
Saturday July 8th.
*12noon-1.30pm Anti-War Vigil at GPO
*2pm *Join the demonstration outside the Central Bank on Dame St. against the war on Palestine & march in support of human rights & international law.
Sunday July 9th.
*2.30pm Anti-War soapbox speaking at Temple Bar Square (hopefully without the jack hammers this time, went well last week).
*5pm a Catholic Worker Liturgy (agape) in the city centre
(Text or call 087 918 4552 for venue & directions)
*6pm head to a pub to watch the World Cup Final
(Text or call 087 918 4552 for venue & directions)
Monday July 10th.
Restart of the Pit Stop Ploughshares Trial
8.30 am Anti-War Vigil at Spire
*9am Speeches
*9.15am Single File Silent Peace Walk to Four COurts in Memory of the dead
*Establish anti-war vigil outside the Four Courts
*4pm-8pm Refreshments/Debrief at nearby church
On July 5, U.S. Army First Lt. Ehren K. Watada was formally
charged with three articles of the Uniform Code of Military Justice: two counts
of contempt towards officials (Article 88) - specifically President G.
W. Bush, three counts of conduct unbecoming an officer and a gentleman
(Article 133), and one count of missing movement (Article 87). If
convicted of all six charges by a general court-martial, Lt. Watada
could be sentenced to over seven years in a military prison.
More background & info......
http://miami.indymedia.org/news/2006/07/5030.php
http://dc.indymedia.org/newswire/display/134542/index.php
Lock them up i say, criminal damage is criminal damage, they knew what they were doing, you cannot just go round smashing things up---if you do you go to jail...simple ...LOCK EM UP
Who you talkin about there boy the nonviolent plowshares or the U.S. military that trashed Baghdad Airport from looting the duty free to shooting up civilian airliners back on invasion day '03?
On Friday evening it was uncharacteristically rainyin Melbourne,
as five of us gathered for an hour at the office of the
Honourary Consul to Ireland.
We were soon
joined by an officer of the Federal Government's Australia Protective
Service and an officer of the State Government's Security Intelligence
Group. At first the federal officer thought the state officer was part of
our group, but once that was sorted out, they were keen to establish that we
would be gone by 6pm so that they could immediately go home.
After they left we made signs and put out leaflets and were pleased when
Simon, a friend of ours, happened to be walking past and joined us for a
while and signed our petition.
We finished up at 6pm, got out of the cold wet evening
and headed back to our homes.
All the best for Monday.
Melbourne Vigil in Soidarity with the Pitstop Ploughshares
The community around the Pit Stop Ploughshares continues to grow. Approx 20 folks turned out for our trip to the movies, "Wind that Shook the Barley". Tonight (Sat.) we head to a play if you want to join us....
Jesus: The Guantanamo Years
in Temple Bar
Jesus: The Guantanamo Years shows Jesus returning to earth but finding himself in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Jesus is a bearded Middle Eastern man who when questioned on the purpose of his visit replies that he is "on a mission from God " which involved "dying as a religous martyr".
Although it may cause the Bush adminstration severe embarassment, Jesus plans to speak about his experiences at Guantanamo Bay. In Abie Philbin Bowman's cleverly written one-man show, he parallels Jesus as the preacher and the comedian.
Bowman poses the question "why is it that no major religions encourage laughter?" seeing as laughter is one of the best ways to celebrate life.
Expect plenty of laughs, some songs, a bit of audience participation and a Pythonesque puppet-show in this debut performance of Jesus: The Guantanamo Years.
The Dubliner described Jesus: The Guantanamo Years as an 'incisive satire'. A witty stand-up comedy affair exploring the multi-layered topic of religion and the current political climate.
Time:8.15pm
Tickets:€10/€6
Project Arts Centre
39 East Essex Street
Temple Bar
Dublin 2
Tel: 881 9614
Web: The Project
A solidarity demo will be held at the Warsaw Irish Embassy at 12 noon this Friday July 14th.
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