IAWM PRESS RELEASE – 22 FEBRUARY 2014
• NATIONAL PROTEST FOR MARGARETTA D’ARCY. ASSEMBLE TODAY 2PM AT THE SPIRE, O’ CONNELL STREET, DUBLIN. MARCH TO MOUNTJOY PRISON.
• US MILITARY OUT OF SHANNON – MARGARETTA D’ARCY OUT OF PRISON
• US PEACE MUM CINDY SHEEHAN SENDS MESSAGE OF SUPPORT FOR MARGARETTA D’ARCY AND HER COURAGEOUS ACTION FOR PEACE
The IAWM issued a statement this morning announcing a national protest for Margaretta D’arcy in Dublin today. The protest will assemble at the Spire on O’ Connell Street where there will be a short rally after which there will be a march to Mountjoy Women’s Prison where Margaretta is being held.
The statement noted:
The protest is supported by a wide range of people and groups including:
Robert Ballagh, Richard Boyd Barrett TD, Joan Collins TD, Clare Daly TD, Rev. Patrick Comerford (President CND), Galway Alliance against War, Joe Higgins TD, Jimmy Kelly Unite Trade Union, Mary Lou Mc Donald TD, Eugene Mc Cartan, Paul Murphy MEP, Peace and Neutrality Alliance PANA, People before Profit, Shannonwatch, US Peace Mum and Candidate for Governor of California Cindy Sheehan, Brid Smith DCC Councillor and People before Profit MEP candidate, Ailbhe Smyth Feminist Open Forum and Chair People before Profit ,Dylan Tighe & Donal O Kelly (Artists for Margaretta) and many more.
Cindy Sheehan, US Peace mum and Candidate for Governor of California sent the following message of solidarity, which will be read out at the protest:
IAWM PRESS RELEASE – 22 FEBRUARY 2014
• NATIONAL PROTEST FOR MARGARETTA D’ARCY. ASSEMBLE TODAY 2PM AT THE SPIRE, O’ CONNELL STREET, DUBLIN. MARCH TO MOUNTJOY PRISON.
• US MILITARY OUT OF SHANNON – MARGARETTA D’ARCY OUT OF PRISON
• US PEACE MUM CINDY SHEEHAN SENDS MESSAGE OF SUPPORT FOR MARGARETTA D’ARCY AND HER COURAGEOUS ACTION FOR PEACE
The IAWM issued a statement this morning announcing a national protest for Margaretta D’arcy in Dublin today. The protest will assemble at the Spire on O’ Connell Street where there will be a short rally after which there will be a march to Mountjoy Women’s Prison where Margaretta is being held.
The statement noted:
The protest is supported by a wide range of people and groups including:
Robert Ballagh, Richard Boyd Barrett TD, Joan Collins TD, Clare Daly TD, Rev. Patrick Comerford (President CND), Galway Alliance against War, Joe Higgins TD, Jimmy Kelly Unite Trade Union, Mary Lou Mc Donald TD, Eugene Mc Cartan, Paul Murphy MEP, Peace and Neutrality Alliance PANA, People before Profit, Shannonwatch, US Peace Mum and Candidate for Governor of California Cindy Sheehan, Brid Smith DCC Councillor and People before Profit MEP candidate, Ailbhe Smyth Feminist Open Forum and Chair People before Profit ,Dylan Tighe & Donal O Kelly (Artists for Margaretta) and many more.
Cindy Sheehan, US Peace mum and Candidate for Governor of California sent the following message of solidarity, which will be read out at the protest:
“I have a special connection to Shannon Airport as my son Casey (who was killed in Iraq) stopped there with his unit as a member of the US Army on his way to occupy and oppress Iraqi. I have protested at Shannon with you all and I honour your commitment to peace and justice. I am writing in support of Margaretta D’Arcy and her courageous action for peace and in support of Ireland severing its war ties with the US Empire.
Free Margaretta and all political prisoners!
With love and in solidarity, Cindy Sheehan”
IAWM statement further noted:
the IAWM condemns the imprisonment of Margaretta D’Arcy, a 79-year-old writer and activist, for her brave stance against the continued use of Shannon Airport by the US military in its pursuit of futile wars abroad, and calls on the Justice Minister Alan Shatter to release her.
Jim Roche, PRO of the IAWM said:
“We support Margaretta D’Arcy’s stance against wars waged by the US military and the brave action she took at Shannon airport in trying to draw attention to the use of an Irish national airport in the pursuit of such wars which have brought much suffering to millions of people abroad.”
He continued:
“The wars led by the US military since 9/11 have been a total disaster for humanity and our planet. There are almost daily bombings in Iraq where there were none before, sectarian division has been stoked throughout the regions of these wars, Drone attacks and extra judicial killings by the US military are now commonplace in these regions and beyond and horrible torture continues at Guantanamo Bay detention centre through the force feeding of desperate hunger striking inmates, all of them innocent and cleared for release.
Thousands of young US soldiers have been killed, more horribly injured and more suffering awful side-effects from their war experience leading in many cases to suicide. The same is true for British soldiers. According to a Panorama programme in July 2013, more British soldiers and veterans took their own lives in 2012 than died fighting the Taliban in Afghanistan over the same period.
And lastly the Taliban seems just as strong now it as has ever been with the Karsai government in Afghanistan now desperate to cut a peace deal with it. All these wars cynically pursued after 9/11 have done nothing except to make our world a more dangerous place. The Irish Government should not be supporting these imperial wars through the facilitation at Shannon Airport. That is why a 79-year old woman Margaretta D’arcy walked on to the runway last year in her peaceful protest, that is why she is in prison and that is why we are protesting today and will continue to protest until her release and until Shannon Airport is demilitarized.”
Contact:
Jim Roche, PRO Steering Committee IAWM, Tel. 087 647 2737
John Molyneux, Steering Committee IAWM, Tel. 085 735 6424
Mark Price, Steering Committee IAWM, Tel. 086 345 4332
Website – www.irishantiwar.org
@IrishAntiWarMvt https://twitter.com/#!/IrishAntiWarMvt
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