Celebrate 10th. Anniversary of the Pitstop Ploughshares Acquittal & Continued Anti-War Resistance at Shannon Airport

by Ploughshares Thu Jul 21, 2016 09:58

War resistance continues – Ten years after Ploughshares acquittal

Members of the anti-war group the Pitstop Ploughshares who were acquitted of $2.5 million criminal damage charges arising out of their actions at Shannon Airport are gathering in Dublin this week. In 2003, the group disabled a U.S. Navy war plane en route to the invasion of Iraq. They were tried three times at the Four Courts before being found unanimously not guilty by a jury in the July of 2006.

One of the group Ciaron O'Reilly stated,“ It is ten years this Monday since we were acquitted at the Four Courts of charges arising out of our nonviolent resistance actions at Shannon Airport in 2003. Obviously a lot has happened since we took action and disabled the U.S. navy plane. Thousands of young American men and women who transited through Shannon to the invasion of Iraq have been killed, many more disabled and of course many were involved in the killing of Iraqis and the destruction of Iraqi society. We now know through the WikiLeaks cables from the U.S. embassy in Dublin of the C.I.A. rendition flights through Shannon and the alarm our action caused to companies transporting troops who rerouted through Germany. The embassy cables also exposed the alarm our acquittal caused the U.S. government and the sycophancy of the then Fianna Fail government.

The recent Chilcot inquiry in Britain exposes how truth remains 'the first casualty of war' and the lies that were employed to facilitate the illegal invasion of Iraq. Bush and Blair are now in comfortable retirement while those who exposed the nature of the U.S. occupation, like Chelsea Manning and Julian Assange, are imprisoned or arbitrarily detained. Bertie Ahern and Brian Cowan also played their part in facilitating this disastrous war, the ill effects of which are still being seen in the violence in the Middle East, the so-called ‘maritime refugee crisis’ and the rise of groups such as ISIS

On Monday. July 25th members of the Pitstop Ploughshares will be gathering with friends, supporters, and members of their legal team to reflect on the ongoing militarisation of Shannon Airpport, the significance of the Pitstop Ploughshares action and acquittal and what our responsibilities are today as the war continues to escalate in Iraq and expand into Syria and across the Middle East.

The gathering will also be in solidarity with Dave Donnellan and Colm Roddy, who are presently before the courts in Co. Clare for recent nonviolent civil disobedience at Shannon. “We know from our own long experience as defendants the importance of solidarity in sustaining nonviolent resistance in these times”, said Pitstop member Damien Moran

There will be a public event of celebration and reflection at the Teachers Club Parnell Square 7.30 pm Monday July 25th.

Further information ]Ciaron 0894323412

by Ciaron O'Reilly - Pitstop Ploughshares Wed Jul 20, 2016 10:08

Free Chelsea Manning - the Roj Light performing on the night

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rJWwxV9E23o