27 September the Big Day

national | anti-war / imperialism | news report Friday September 19, 2003 16:24 by Justin Morahan - Peace People

The big Anti-war protest set for 27 September is upon us.

There have been several preparatory meetings already for the big anti-war, anti-occupation protest on Saturday week next, 27 September. Mary Kelly, Raymond Deane and Aoife ní Fhearghail were speakers at a meeting on Wednesday night, sponsored by the Fairview and Drumcondra Anti-war groups. On Tuesday night, Dun Laoghaire were in action (see previous post and comments). To-day in the Irish Times there is news of a press conference at which Patricia McKenna, Dr Andy Storey, Roger Cole and Proinsias de Rossa urged everyone to make the 27th September protest as big as the 15th February one.
The main thrust of any meetings I have attended is that the Irish Government must be made answerable for allowing the US to use Shannon airport for its War and Occupation, that this occupation must be opposed, that the occupation of Shannon by US military must be stopped, that we make an effort, to get the information on what has been happening and is happening in Iraq and Palestine into the public domain, to use our national TV and Radio stations, local radio, newspapers, every outlet possible to demand that our Government stops supporting the occupation of Iraq and makes its voice heard to oppose war. The injustice of what is happening in Palestine is of equal importance.
We, the vast throngs of Irish people who showed our disgust at our Government's actions leading up to the war in Iraq, are now being asked to come out again and show that there is power in public protest and that any Government who rubbishes the idea does so at its peril.