|
|
reports |
| Back |
|
Belfast Spells Message to Bush 19th Nov 03 |
|
|
|
|
|
On Wed 19th a number of activists staged a protest outside Belfast City Hall in the early afternoon. The atmosphere was light hearted even if the message was not. Resplendent in freshly prepared t-shirts a number of the group performed a series of carefully choreographed maneuvers in order to spell out simple but clear messages of abhorrence for the Bush visit and the policies of his administration in general.
After
a somewhat shaky start the move from one slogan to another, No More Oil War
quickly leading to Bush Not Welcome or, my personal favourite, Bush Terror Man
became smooth and eye catching. Passers-by mostly on shopping trips or out of
work for lunch were supportive with a number stopping to join in, the bravest
even donning t-shirts and joining in the line up!
This was an excellent opportunity to remind people that the war in Iraq is not
over and that the Bush administration poses a huge threat to civil liberties
both globally and in the USA. People are generally disgusted that British tax
payers have paid for this visit, having already seen resources moved from public
service funding in order to pay for the war they didn't want. To have an untried
and apparently untouchable war criminal breeze into town and be treated to a
state banquet gives a clear illustration of the type of 'democracy' that can be
expected from both of these states!!
Bush isn't welcome in the UK, he isn't welcome in Ireland and as he encroaches
upon American civil liberties more and more I suspect he's not going to be
welcome there much longer either.
|
|
|
|
For immediate release 16/11/03
On Wednesday 19th November 2.00pm[1] a group of individuals organising as ‘Our Kitchen’[2] protest George W Bushes visit to the UK at the Front of Belfast City Hall. Using street theatre in a highly visual action the group will ‘spell out’ a special message to Bush Junior.
This
protest is part of a week of action throughout the UK during Bushes visit to the
UK. Protesters are mobilising around growing opposition to the occupation of
Iraq and expect that many people will also join in protest given the US
government's support for global trade regulations which privilege rich countries
over poor, their refusal to sign the Kyoto Protocol and the Nuclear
non-Proliferation Treaty, their support for compliant dictatorships such as
Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, and their continued backing for Israel's war on
Palestine.
One Protestor Darina Murray stated:
‘Despite
a long and fruitless search for weapons of mass destruction in Iraq, the US
maintains that they are keeping us safe from "rogue states" and
"terrorists".
The US, however, with an annual military budget of almost half a trillion US
dollars has more weapons of mass destruction than any other nation and are
prepared to use them. We know where the weapons are - and we know where the real
threat lies...’
& Continued:
‘Many of our friends & colleagues have travelled to London to protest Bushes State Visit we encourage others to organise their own acts of creative non-violent action to express dismay over this visit’.
7
people are still on remand facing charges from Bushes visit to the Province in
April. Several protestors appear tomorrow (Thursday 20th November) at Belfast
Magistrates Court on remand on charges of ‘Blocking
the Highway’ dating from protest at City Hall
during Bushes visit
[2] ‘Our Kitchen’ a loose network of peace activists, anti-globalisation activists’ anarchists, and environmentalists active in organising protest against the war & occupation of Iraq. During the Bush Visit to Northern Ireland ‘Our Kitchen’ staged a ‘die-in’ inside the ‘Hillsborough Ring of Steel’ & we’re involved in Civil Disobedience at City Hall.
|
|
|
|
| Top of Page | Back |
|
reports |
