FEIC Activist Arrested at Raytheon

derry | anti-war / imperialism | feature

Monday August 11, 2008 10:13

by Jim Keys - Foyle Ethical Investment Campaign

07803268790

Art for peace sake is a dangerous business in Derry

The Offending Artwork

Jim Keys, a member of the Foyle Ethical Investment Campaign (FEIC), was arrested on Friday after their monthly peace vigil outside Raytheon’s Derry software facility. His crime? He touched up a three year old spray drawing of The Black Shamrock on the public pavement outside Raytheon! The charge? Criminal Damage?

Related Links: Raytheon stories on indy

Jim Keys, a member of the Foyle Ethical Investment Campaign (FEIC), was arrested on Friday after their monthly peace vigil outside Raytheon’s Derry software facility. Towards the close of the vigil Mr Keys had touched up a spray representation of a Black Shamrock symbol on the pavement. He claims the representation has been there for around three years and that periodically he refreshes it. Within minutes of doing this members of the PSNI arrived on the scene and proceeded to arrest Mr. Keys for criminal damage. Prior to his arrest Mr Keys claimed he had debated with the officers saying that arrest would be an outrageous abuse of public resources. Commenting after being released on bail he said,

‘Reasoning with the arresting officers had little effect, they seemed to be paying more attention to what was being said to them through their earpieces than making an accurate assessment of the situation on the ground.’

Two visitors from Cuba, Juan T. Vazquez Martin and Mercedes Soca Gil present at the vigil, witnessed the arrest. Mr Vazquez Martin who is one of Cuba’s foremost abstract painters and is currently in Derry on an a cultural exchange supported by the Writers and Artists Union of Cuba of which he is member, said,

‘I attended the vigil in a personal capacity as part of my stance against war. I saw the symbol on the pavement as a discreet and beautiful piece of art, reminiscent of many of the same genre, which I see on the streets of Havana. How could this be offensive to anyone? The vigil was indeed ending when the police arrived so they outnumbered the five of us who remained. As a visitor I found it intimidating. I am left with the impression that police action was more about the meaning of the vigil than the painting on the ground. Are they more disturbed by the image of a flower than by death?’

Ms Soca Gil who organised the cultural exchange with Gaslight Productions in Derry and is herself a Quaker said,

‘We are extremely shocked by what happened. We were there to highlight that the call for peace is a global one, and to bring a message of love and solidarity from Cuban people to the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland. We are worried that our good friend Jim was arrested and our names taken by the police’.

Commenting on the meaning of his ‘piece of pavement art’ Mr Keys said,

‘The Black Shamrock symbol originated in Derry and represents opposition to Irish involvement in war north and south. This ‘involvement’ happens through weapons manufacturers like Raytheon and the use of Shannon Airport by the US military. The colour symbolises our mourning for those who have lost their lives in such wars as well as also symbolising our mourning at the consequent loss of Irish neutrality. My arrest will not deflect FEIC or myself from the campaign against the presence of Raytheon, a presence, which contradicts the Derry City Council’s declared position of opposition to the arms trade. The arrest merely exposes how state power becomes anti democratic if its citizens are not vigilant and actively hold it to account.’

For further information contact Jim Keys on 07803268790