Independent Media Centre Ireland http://www.indymedia.ie

Dublin City Council officials ban anti-war poster

dublin | anti-war / imperialism | news report

Thursday June 12, 2008 16:00

by Sara - IAWM

for Belfast anti-Bush demo

Dublin City Council officials have refused permission to the irish anti war movement to erect posters advertising a protest against the visit of George Bush to Belfast, due to take place this Monday June 16th.
.

The poster advertises the Belfast protest, which will take place at Belfast City Hall at 12.30pm on Monday June 16th and the details of buses that will travel from Dublin to the protest

In response to an email from the IAWM notifying the council of its intention to erect posters, the council replied with an email which stated

"Permission will not be granted to the erection of these posters as it is felt that it may be perceived offensive by members of the public"

The Irish Anti-War Movement regards this decision a completely unacceptable act of political censorship and intend to defy the Council ban and erect the poster anyway. The IAWM say that if there is any attempt to fine their organisation for erecting the poster they will refuse to pay the fine.

The IAWM will hold a street protest tomorrow, Friday June 13, at 12 midday at the GPO, where participants will have gags on their mouths to symbolise the attack on free speech by DCC. The IAWM will also hold a protest street meetings and public defiance of the poster ban on Saturday June 14th at 12am and 3pm at the GPO

This ban has to be seen in the wider context of several attempts by the Council since the huge anti-war protests in 2003 to ban posters advertising political meetings and demonstrations.

It is becoming increasingly clear that at very high levels in officialdom and government there is an agenda to suppress any political activity or protest that questions US foreign policy

The Irish Anti-War Movement has said it will not allow the government or authorities to silence anti-war protest in this country and will defy this ban regardless of the consequences and appeal to the public and all those who care about free speech to support them

Comments (5 of 5)

Adding the photo

by redjade - (((i))) of the beholder

publication date

Thu Jun 12, 2008 17:29

looks like a reasonable poster to me

20080616bushprotest_copy.pdf 1.69 Mb

Would I prefer.......

by Mike - Judean Popular Peoples Front

publication date

Thu Jun 12, 2008 17:55

I would prefer if Saddam had never been in power in the first place.

Which he wouldnt have been if the CIA hadnt put him there

Just like they did with the Taliban.

Losing track of values - how about free speech?

by Coilín

publication date

Thu Jun 12, 2008 22:34

If anybody has lost track of fundamental values, it is somebody in Dublin City Council who has lost track of constitutional values, e.g. the right to free speech, as expressed in Article 40 of the Constitution of Ireland:

"FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS
Personal Rights
Article 40
...
6. 1° The State guarantees liberty for the exercise of the following rights, subject to public order and morality:
i. The right of the citizens to express freely their convictions and opinions.
... "

No official in Dublin City Council has the right to ban a poster on the pretext that somebody might find it offensive.

Some people may well find it offensive to see George Bush portrayed as a dopey gunman, but it is the constitutional right of any citizen to express the opinion that he is just that. Sometimes political opinions will be offensive to people of other political persuasions, and that does not invalidate them.

A key point in the obligation of the state and local authorities such as city councils to uphold the constitutional - nay, universal! - principle of free speech is that they must defend or even encourage the expression of political opinions and convictions that some people may find offensive. Otherwise, there would be nothing to uphold.

Somebody ought to be asked to resign from the city council for this interference in the constitutional rights of the citizens of the Republic.

I support your demonstrations against the City Council's disgraceful attack on this most basic democratic freedom. Ya basta! See you on Saturday.

Coilín.

The contradictions are sickening.

by paul o toole

publication date

Fri Jun 13, 2008 10:02

What is offensive here is that the man who is the object of this protest is responsible for turning the world upside down with his deliberate and planned 'war on terror', based on subverted intelligence by his own office and advisors.
So far 1,200,000 murdered, 500,000 widows and 5,000,000 orphans. And a country destroyed, again, having been disarmed twice by the UN and 960,000 of its children starved to death by US/K sanctions from 1991/ 1998. So it is easy to see where the DCC officials stand on the issue when other peoples children being massacred with the help of Irish politicians. They could give a damn........
They are no better than the police in Shannon........

I also find the poster of George W. Bush offensive. And anyone with a concience would, which is why it is imperative to get it up.But it is easy to see where DCC stand on the issue.

I do have a complaint though, a serious one.
Turning GW Bush into comical figure in this poster deflects real anger and the issue which is where mainstream controlled media deliberately channel most dissident anger into humour through puppet comedians under the guise of freedom of expression on Fox, Cnn, Abc,Nbc etc..
There are only a handful of comedians capable of conveying the message without loosing the anger, but you wont see them on TV. .

by krossie - wsm personal capacity

publication date

Fri Jun 13, 2008 14:11

This is actually the first time I've heard of them actually turning down an image - interesting -
It is a great poster!