Stop Blair - Urgent Call to Action
national |
anti-war / imperialism |
press release 
Monday August 23, 2010 13:41
by GAAW Convenor - Galway Alliance Against War
The Galway Alliance Against War has written to progressive organisations throughout the country asking them to become involved in the campaign to stop the mass murderer Tony Blair coming to Ireland to kick off the world promotion of his memoir. On the 4th September Blair is to conduct a book-signing in Eason’s O’Connell St Dublin from 11am-1pm. And the previous evening he is due to appear on RTE’s Late Late Show.
GAAW intends to begin picketing the local Branch of Eason’s in Galway from this Thursday lunchtime in protest and is asking other groups around the country to hold protests outside Eason’s stores.
The Galway Alliance Against War is of the view that Eason’s and RTE can be forced to rescind their invitations to this man who is directly responsible for the deaths of more than 1.3 million Iraqis.
GAAW's message to progressive groups in Ireland:
GALWAY ALLIANCE AGAINST WAR
A chara,
On Saturday 4th September the war criminal Tony Blair is to kick off the world promotion of his self-serving memoir with a book-signing in Eason’s on O Connell Street, Dublin. The evening before he will be a guest on RTE s Late Late Show .
The Galway Alliance Against War believes it is essential that all progressive groups come together to force Eason s to reconsider hosting this mass murderer.
Our goal should be to make Eason’s and RTE reconsider their position and rescind their respective invites.
We are proposing that from next Thursday, 26th August, there should be protests – irrespective of what size - outside Eason’s shops throughout the country, making it clear that this invite to a person, who is directly responsible for the deaths of over a million innocent Iraqis, is deeply repulsive.
In addition, as many people as possible should contact Eason’s:
by emailing the following: internet@easons.com; sales@easons.com; info@eason.ie . Emails to these addresses will reach the movers and shakers in Eason’s.
If you are on Facebook post your objections on the “Eason Book club” page.
Also, emails opposing RTE’s invite to Blair should be sent to complaints@rte.ie .
It is our understanding that the Gardaí are already concerned about security aspects of Blair’s “visit” and have warned that the book-signing will have to be cancelled if “trouble” is anticipated. It would therefore be very useful if as many press statements and letters were sent to the media expressing opposition to this monster coming to Ireland.
Tony Blair should be before the International Court of Justice in the Hague charged with war crimes, not touring the world promoting his autobiography. However, rather than arrest this man, the Irish authorities are proposing to spend large sums of taxpayers’ money on security so that Blair can promote himself and his book.
If we fail to prevent Blair’s visit then we should proceed to Plan B: the daily lunchtime protests should culminate in a national demonstration on 4th September outside Eason’s on O Connell Street Dublin. It is important that people assemble from 9am onwards, as Blair is due to arrive between 10 - 11am. The mass murderer will be signing books from 11am till 1pm and then will be leaving the building.
We would suggest that there should be a protest from 7.30pm on 3rd September at RTE s Dublin HQ.
An important element of Plan B would be to carry out a peaceful citizen s arrest of the mass murderer Blair. You are probably already aware of the website: http://www.arrestblair.org/ - we believe the rules and guidelines set out on this website is the modus operandi we should strictly follow. It is worth noting that arrestblair.org has put a bounty on this war criminal s head.
We are suggesting that each group forms its own arrest Blair committee. What might prove useful is the following link to apply for tickets to the Late Late Show on 3rd September:
http://www.rte.ie/tv/latelate/tickets10.html .
Naturally, we are open to other peaceful proposals to stop Blair coming to Ireland.
If you are willing to participate in this action, please reply as soon as possible, so that we can coordinate activities amongst the different groups in each town.
Yours in Peace,
Muirlinn Conway
GAAW Convenor
Comments (7 of 7)
Jump To Comment: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7Sir/Madam.
Eight years ago, over 100,000 people of live conscience marched past the front doors of your branch in O'Connell Street in protest against the imminent criminal attack on the defenceless sovereign country of Iraq, eight years on with over a million dead, you desecrate their memory and slime, besides the marchers, the Irish people who overwhelmingly opposed this illegal war by feting and honouring one of its main architects with his so called book signing at the same branch.
Yours, etc.
Thanks for that, Maureen, aside from the erroneous date of the protest; February 15, 2003 rather than "eight years ago," I've used your letter as a template for sending a complaint to RTE complaints@rte.ie :
Dear Sir/Madam.
On February 15, 2003, over 100,000 people of live conscience marched in protest against the imminent criminal attack on the defenceless sovereign country of Iraq, eight years on with over a million dead, you desecrate their memory and slime, besides the marchers, the Irish people who overwhelmingly opposed this illegal war by feting and honouring one of its main architects, namely, war criminal, Tony Blair.
Yours
Brian O'Monghain
It beggar's belief that the Irish Anti-War Movement is calling for protesters to "assemble at 11.30am at the Garden of Remembrance in Parnell Square, before marching to Eason’s where the book signing will be taking place" http://irishantiwar.org/ when, according to the Galway Alliance Against War press release: Blair is due to arrive between 10 - 11am. The mass murderer will be signing books from 11am till 1pm and then will be leaving the building. More efficacious in every way is for the IAWM to hold the protest outside Eason's from 9.30am onwards, then, there'll be no soft and easy passage for Blair into that establishment, let the bugger feel the outrage we all nurture.? I for one, don't feel the need to waft my perfume into the desert air and do a Grand Old Duke of York on it; the pointless exercise in the Garden of Remembrance. I for one, will be outside Eason's at 9.30am, if not earlier.
Let the fucker feel the heat as he goes in.?
It's a curious decision alright, Truthsayer: By the time the protesters assemble in the Garden and after, presumably, some speechifying there, they eventually get to Eason's the vulture, very likely, will have flown the coop.? What then.? a futile closing of the doors after the decrepid nag has bolted.?
Should the posters not read as follows....We Dont Want Tony Blair .?
Can someone point out to me what BAe-bi Face Toni did that Bertie ('these people are demonstrating in support of my policies'), Cowen and the Fine Fawlty Quislings in Leinster House did not do, and are still doing?
Sure, get out there and protest. But remember who the spineless collaborators in our own corner are. Blair is a busted flush. He wont be rubber stamping the increased military traffic through Shannon when the lights go green for Iran.
And, sceptic, I dont think there is a bye-law to stop you drafting up your own poster.
were I in the vicinity would simply read;-
' BOOK BAe-Bi Face BLAIR '
Its easy enough mock up a shot of him in handcuffs(I've had one of George in his prison suit and cuffed to a garda on the wall for a few years now).
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