[antiwar-van] 'Shannon 5' Solidarity Vigil

[Macdonald Stainsby]

Please Circulate Widely

'Shannon 5' Solidarity Vigil
Location: Irish Consulate - 1385 W. 8th Ave
Date: Tues, June 24
Time: 11am - 1pm
Contact: abeermajeed at hotmail.com

SUPPORT 'SHANNON 5' - On trial in Ireland for disarming a US Navy war plane
in Shannon on Feb 3rd '03

BACKGROUND

In the build up and execution of this year's war on Iraq, 50,000 U.S. troops
passed through Shannon Airport, County Clare, to the killing and oil fields
of Iraq. In contravention of Irish neutrality, U.S. troops and munitions
(including components of Patriot and Tomahawk Cruise missiles) passed
through the Irish airport. A civilian airport was transformed into a pit
stop of death. Shannon Airport continues to serve this role for the U.S. war
machine in its illegal occupation of Iraq.

In the early hours of February 3rd. the"Pit Stop Ploughshares Community" -
Deirdre Clancy, Nuin Dunlop, Karen Fallon, Damien Moran & Ciaron O'Reilly -
began to enflesh the prophecy of Isaiah by nonviolently disabling a U.S.
Navy war plane.

Immediately following their disarmament action, the five spent 4-11 weeks in
Limerick Prison. They were gradually released under stringent bail
conditions - banned from County Clare where their trial is set to take place
and forced to sign on daily at specific Garda stations in Dublin.

The Irish government deployed the Army and Navy in reponse to the nonviolent
disarmament. Three U.S. commercial airlines transporting U.S. troops
withdrew from Ireland. The Clare Garda expended their annual budget and a
state campaign of slander and lies was unleashed on the five defendants.
Government claims of 2.5 millioon euros of criminal damage have not been
itemised. Legal aid for senior counsel has thus far been denied.

If convicted, Deirdre, Nuin, Karen, Damien and Ciaron face a maximum of ten
years imprisonment.

The five are calling for solidarity vigils on June 24th. at Irish Embassies
and Consuls thoruout the world or any relevant military or coporate site.

So far solidarity vigils have been confirmed at the following places.....

Dublin GPO, Belfast Town Hall, Kilrush Court, Irish Embassy London, Irish
Embassy Brussels, Irish Embassy Amsterdam, Irish Embassy Washington DC,
Irish Consul New York City, Philadelphia Federal Building, Houston Federal
Building, Archbishop Romero's tomb El Salvador, somewhere in Dili East
Timor, Irish Embassy Wellington, Irish Consul Auckland, Harewood USAF Base
Christchurch, Irish Embassy Sweden, Irish Embassy London

Check out the Pit Stop Ploughshares website for background and updated
information www.ploughsharesireland.org.

Pit Stop Ploughshares Ph. Contacts
Landline +353 1 4064 466
Mobile +353 87 918 4552
Email pitstopploughshares at hotmail.com
Postal- Ploughshares 134 Phibsborough Rd. Dublin 7 IRELAND


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Macdonald Stainsby
http://lists.econ.utah.edu/mailman/listinfo/rad-green
http://lists.econ.utah.edu/mailman/listinfo/leninist-international
--
In the contradiction lies the hope.
                                     --Bertholt Brecht