Supporters of Shannon Defendants

by Denise Wed Jul 30, 2003 20:48

hey jenny,
you've my support 100% of the way. its so brave & inspiring what ye've done. watch out bertie. more people should be taking on the government and kicking them up the ass. a government in theory is there for the people, to ensure safety, security and enforce our human rights, the government are doing none of the above, and as jenny said are complicit and to be held responsible for the deaths of innocent millions. civil disobedience, nvda is called for so come on people. its 2003, we have the power, if we don't who will? the time is now. lets all give jenny & martin as much support and love as we can.
fair play and keep going jenny girl,
in peace & love,
denise*

by Eoin Dubsky - Refueling Peace Tue Jul 29, 2003 16:59

In response to your points/thoughts above:

1) I don't think that appealing a court decision implies that the answer is in the courts not further n.v. resistance. The court witness is part of the action. So why not protract it a little if you feel it can help? This is only, I guess, if the court witness isn't an entirely cynical exercise.

2) In some cases it may be a way of avoiding jail or whatever your sentence is. Everyone, for their own personal reasons, has to decide for themselves whether/ or when they're ready for jail I guess. It could also be that you think the at the district court a judge is making an arse of the law. You might think that you're not there to challenge unjust laws, but rather to see that the law is enforced (i.e. we're putting the *war* on trial, not the other way around).

3) I don't think that the appeals imply that the nvda campaign at Shannon has climaxed and is over. Having just attended a Gluaiseacht (http://www.gluaiseacht.net/) activist organizing weekend, I can tell you that plans are being hatched at this very moment for more... ;-)

4) Regarding the issue of setting bad precedents: Right now that's not really relevant in Shannon. The "lawful excuse" provisions in the Criminal Damage Act 1991 (which say its okay to break stuff sometimes...) have never been used successfully by an activist. So we can't really "lose" the defence. If at the Circuit or High Court level (i.e. on appeal at CC or under judicial review at HC) the law is clarified it could help us a great deal. E.g. Thanks to Appeals launched by Trident Ploughshares campaigners in Scotland, to convict someone of a "breach of the peace" is much harder now than it was a few years ago.

by Another resister Tue Jul 29, 2003 09:44

The movement has to be careful not to get bogged down in appeal processes.

1) It implies that the answer is in the courts not further n.v. resistance.

2) Is it merely a way of avoiding jail time and cotinuing the witness & organisising from there? (Choosing the company of the legal profession over the poor as a constituency?)

3) These appeals could be an implicit admission that the nvda campaign at Shannon has climaxed and is over. Maybe we should just be honest about that. That the Irish peace movement (what's left of it after the SWP smaash & grab asset stripping) has learnt to live with the daily use of Shannon by the U.S. military commuting to the occupation of Iraq.

4) Appeals often create bad case law/precedents that limits the next crew of resisters to run certain lines of defense that have been defined aand deined at appeal level.

The avoidanxce of the appeals process is strong in the U.S. plowshares movement for these reasons NOT so strong in the TP/UK ploughshares movement that seems to have less contact with the homeless/third world poor and more faith in the law as an answer.

by Seáinín Tue Jul 29, 2003 03:37

In all fairness you people should live in N Korea or Cuba or Iraq under Saddam. You'd realise that we are living in very privileged circumstances.

Stop supporting foreign dictators.

by Justin Morahan - Peace People Tue Jul 29, 2003 01:26

Your courageous action and great spirit are much appreciated. I will support your appeal 100%.Don't ever doubt the value of your witness and action. And don't please ever lose that inner fire that has burned so brightly with love of humanity through these days of national and international shame.

by Anonymous Mon Jul 28, 2003 18:33

Thank you Jenny, and all the many other activists who have had the bravery & selflessness to risk getting arrested and going through those arduous court trials.

Thank you.