Protest prevails four years and counting

by: Amber Nolan

Brian Haw .
PHOTO: www.parliament-square.org.uk ,

London: As Big Ben counts down the hours, the public counts the days that Brian Haw has remained voicing his opinion of the war in Iraq. He displays banners telling the governments to “stop killing our kids”.

Haw has seven children of his own who reside in Worcestershire, England. When he started his vigil in 2001, it contained a few signs with the names of young children who had died as a consequence of sanctions in Iraq. Since 11 September 2001, supporters from all over the world have added to his tribute, promoting his message of peace.

Haw has endured several arrests and assaults, as well as the nagging call of nature (PN understands that Westminster Council have begun charging 50p to use the local public toilets), and numerous attempts to remove him from his post just outside of Parliament. In October 2002, he won a major case in which the judge decided that he was exercising his freedom of speech, and was not obstructing any highway. In 2004 charges were dismissed of his alleged assault of a police officer, after he was arrested in the middle of the night.

In April 2005 the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act received Royal Assent – something which campaigners fear may lead to Haw’s removal from Parliament Square (see http://www.peacenews.info/news/article/324). The new law technically prohibits protest within one kilometre of Parliament, as well as banning the use of loudspeakers. Any assemblies must be announced six days in advance.

Although there have been many efforts to silence Haw, many of his supporters are cheering him on. He was officially nominated as a candidate in the general election of the cities of London and Westminster, although – perhaps unsurprisingly - he did not win. In an effort to persuade Brian to abandon his one-man vigil, the Mayor of London recently offered to build a statue of him and place it on the empty plinth in nearby Trafalgar Square.

This anniversary marks one of the longest-lasting individual public protest of modern times. Peace News sends all best wishes to Brian and hopes his protest will continue for as long as he chooses!

NOTE: Brian can be visited in Parliament Square at any time.
For more details contact Emma Sangster on (Ukm) 07791 486 484.

Source: Parliament-Square.org.uk