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Messages of support for the Raytheon 9 have been flooding in
from across the world, says the Derry Anti War Coalition.
Dear
Friends,
The
"Stop the Merchants of Death" Campaign of the War Resisters
League [www.warresisters.org/smod]
is
writing to express our support for the "Derry Nine" -
activists in the peace movement accused of crimes for trying
to stop Raytheon's manufacture of weapons.
These nine "occupied" Raytheon's office. But this occupation
was far more benign than the Israeli occupation of
Palestine, the US occupation of Iraq and the NATO occupation
of Afghanistan - all of which are enabled by Raytheon money,
lobbying and weapons. The activists' modern, "technological
plowshares" action was a courageous attempt to forestall the
massive maiming and killing of civilians by Raytheon weapons
in Iraq, Lebanon, Palestine, Afghanistan and around the
world.
When
Raytheon uses its "access" to promote wars so that they can
profit from war's bloodshed, they are not prosecuted. When
they defraud the taxpayers of their money, they are not
prosecuted. When they manufacture weapons of terror
condemned by the
Red Cross,
the
Cluster Munition Coalition,
the
United Nations,
and the
Vatican,
they are not prosecuted.
And yet these nine Derry activists are not only prosecuted,
they were treated as terrorists - and for trying
nonviolently to prevent further terror.
We will continue to expand our community of resistance here
in the U.S., and are proud to support our sisters and
brothers in their efforts across the world, particularly now
in Derry. The five "Pitstop Ploughshares" activists who
sought to stop the illegal and immoral bombing of Iraq by
disabling the means of attack at Shannon Air Force were
found not guilty. These "Derry Nine" should also be found
not guilty. In fact, they should receive gratitude from
those who love peace in Ireland, in the U.S., and in the
world.
--
Peace and Justice,
G.
Simon Harak
Anti-Militarism Coordinator
WAR
RESISTERS LEAGUE
339
Lafayette St., New York, NY 10012
I am
writing on behalf of War Resisters' International, we will
like to
endorse your statement in support to the 9 people who
could face
serious spells in jails for protesting against the presence
of U.S.
arms manufacturer Raytheon in Derry.
War Resisters' International believes that war is a crime
against
humanity and thre for we are determined not to support any
kind of
war, and to strive for the removal of all causes of war. And
we believe
that war profiteering is one of the mayor causes of war.
Kind regards
Javier Garate
War Resisters' International
Good luck for
your trial.
A few of us
in Brisbane are resisting the local Raytheon office here. We
did an exorcism a few weeks ago, and are continuing.
Love and
peace
Jim Dowling,
Brisbane, Australia
10.5.08
Greetings
from the other side of the world!
As one of the Waihopai three, who recently entered our
US-controlled spy base and deflated one of its domes,
I send our prayers and support for your trial.
Kia kaha! i.e. Courage; be strong!
Continue to expose the war-machine for the anti-human
system that it is.
Peter Murnane
(for Sam Land and Adi Leason, with whom I am not
allowed to associate) New Zealand
16.5.08
Thanks so
much for pdf of the pamphlet. It may help us in our trial
(depositions begin at end
of August) ; the subtitle alone is worth hanging in front of
the court house!
Peter Murnane
Waihopai Ploughshares 3
We're thinking of you and wondering how it went today in
court.
Peace, solidarity and lots of support to you,
from all at Talamh Housing Co-op, and Mark Leach and Roz
Bullen (one of
the 4 arrested out of the first group who went inside
Prestwick airport
in August 06. After several changes to the charges the
Procurator Fiscal
dropped charges of trespass last month before taking the
case to trial
as couldn't prosecute due to a technicality to do with them
not having
correct signs on the perimeter fence...they've changed the
signs since!
Those facing trial, whilst relieved, wanted the truth to be
heard in
court and had witnesses from Lebanese community and expert
witness
relating to the bombing and its impact on the Lebanese
people and
infrastructure but the case was dropped.)
South Lanarkshire, Scotland.
The
Raytheon Nine have my support for the current trial. In
addition, I am concerned to hear that there was a gagging
order in place in relation to this prosecution and the
pacifist activities preceding it.
Kind
regards
Vicky - Cambridge Town & Gown Against the War, Campeace
etc.
Cardiff Stop the War Coalition and Stop the St Athan
Military Academy Campaign agreed at a meeting today that
we will be holding a protest against Raytheon in Cardiff to
co-incide with your protest on May 27th on the theme,
Solidarity with the Raytheon 9/Kick Raytheon out of Wales.
Dear
Raytheon 9,
I am far from Derry or Belfast, but please allow me to
express my
solidarity with each and every one of you in the upcoming
"trial"!
I am old now, and feeling somewhat useless, but ...
I was one of the SNCC activists who participated with Dr.
Martin
Luther King on the Selma Freedom March, and one of the peace
activists
with David Dellinger in Chicago during Auguest of 1968 where
by direct
action alone we ended the political careers of President
Johnson and
Hubert Humphrey. My activism ... specific and concrete ...
has
continued without interruption to this day.
(I was also a member of the old DAWN group in Ireland during
the 1970s
and early 1980s, and author of "The Other Irish in America"
section of
the DAWN pamphlet "Nonviolence in Irish History.")
Courage!
Séamas Cain
You
have my support. Salaam Shalom Peace, Hazel.
Good
luck in the trial, thank goodness some people are willing to
stand
and take action against war and aggression. One
day.....................................
Kathy
Further messages of solidarity from Wandsworth Stop the War
Coalition, South London Palestine Solidarity Campaign and
South London Communist Party of Britain.
Justice for Palestine !
End
the siege of Gaza !
For
the right of return for Palestinian refugees !
We
hope all goes well at the trial - your innocence is proven
by your act of international conscience, you have done more
for the peoples of Palestine, than the Western powers have
done for over 60 years.
Just
to say all the best for the trial. I was one of the UK
activists who boarded as US Air Force plane at Prestwick
airport over the same issue - most of us pulled through the
legal process, we know what you're about to go through and
we send our very best wishes to you.
In love and peace
Chris Bluemel
(Southampton)
The
people of Tokyo "Spring" would like to offer words of
encouragement and wholehearted support to your group, the
Derry Anti-war Coalition. We would like it to be known that
the case of the Raytheon nine is receiving attention around
the world.
The people of the Derry Anti-war Coalition and all those of
conscience living in Northern Ireland and the UK may rest
assured that as many people in Japan as possible are being
informed of the behaviour of the British government and its
judiciary. As a nation with a "Peace" constitution, the
plight of the Raytheon nine will receive attention, given
that Raytheon is a "Purveyor of Death".
Please do not hesitate to use this communication in your
campaign for justice for the already punished defendants and
convey our call to the judiciary to acquit the nine.
In Solidarity,
SPRING Anti War Group, Tokyo, Japan.
hiyas all!
just wanted to send a wee message of support. i wish youse
all the best for the trial which i'll be following as best i
can with my friends and comrades here in granada, spain.
youse are an inspiration for people struggling everywhere.
with comeradely greetings.
tom preier
Dear
Raytheon 9 Derry,
I write on behalf of peace and union activists in Brisbane,
Australia to thank and support you for your courgeous
action.
We too have an office of Raytheon in Brisbane which was
occupied by local peace actvists a few days ago with our
support.
We are also continuing to expose the role of Raytheon and
the US military at the Pine Gap Base in Alice Springs.
We strenuously support your right to fair trial (as an ex-Pom
I strongly opposed the introduction of Diplock Courts in my
Manchester days!)
All the best and let us know how we can help from Australia.
Peace and solidarity,
Mark Taylor
Australian Services Union - National Conference Delegate
Just Peace Brisbane
Australian Greens
I'm
a Baptist minister from Melbourne, working with the homeless
and marginalised in the city and part of the wider Christian
Activist Network in Australia. I was recently convicted
myself for a nonviolent anti-war action in Australia after
disrupting Australia/US joint military exercises (http://samuelhill5.blogspot.com).
I just wanted to express my love and solidarity with you all
as you face trial, and encourage you to keep up the good
work. May you be blessed with peace and courage, and with
humility and strength to speak the truth. Know that there
are many others around the world who support your actions,
and who admire your work for peace and justice in the
world. I will be praying for you.
Blessings of peace to you all,
Simon Moyle
all
our suport to you brave 9!
Assemblea de la Vall de Can Masdeu
(Can Masdeu, www.canmasdeu.net - Barcelona, Catalunya,
Spain)
Other collectives that supports you:
Temps de Revoltes (Catalunya)
Entesa pel Decreixement (Catalunya)
Assemblea de la Solana de Collserola (BArcelona)
Infoespai (Barcelona)
Dear
friends,
We are thinking of you as you approach trial and attempt to
further bring Raytheon's crimes to public attention and help
have them kicked out of Derry once and for all. I am trying
to put together a group to hold protest outside Raytheon's
offices in Warsaw and have contacted friends from the
Anti-Missile Defense Shield Campaign in the Czech Republic
to hold a similar protest. I will be in touch about
developments. Keep your spirits high and thank you for doing
a great act of resistance against these war profiteering
scum.
In solidarity,
Damien Moran
Pitstop Ploughshares acquittee
Dear
DAWC,
About a month ago, I visited Qana and 'found' the memorial
stone you
brought there, though at the moment I couldn't figure out
what it really
was. There was an old man in the building that faces the
mausoleum, but
he seemed to be lost and asking him didn't seem right. But
as it
happens, the day after I met Caoimhe, who told me the whole
story.
That's why as a sign of support and solidarity with your
action, I have
written an article about the whole story in Spanish, hoping
that it will
help to spread the news and get more signs of support
amongst
Spanish-speaking audiences as the trial approaches. Most of
the
information and the quotes included in the article come from
your own
website, which I assume reflects your point of view on the
events.
You can find the article here:
http://www.tni.org/detail_page.phtml?act_id=18232
I hope you like it. If you do, feel free to use it as you
think best
(meaning that you can cut and adapt it). If you have any
critiques or
suggestions, please let me know so that the piece can be
improved.
In solidarity, ¡hasta la victoria siempre!
Bea
Dear
Raytheon 9 Friends:
On
behalf of our organization I send solidarity greetings to
you as your trial date approaches.
Your
action for peace and sanity is one more important voice
being heard around the world as the weapons industry moves
further in the direction of endless war against the people
of the planet on behalf of corporate feudalism.
Raytheon is a leader in so many "new high tech weapons
systems" that are robbing the people of a future here on our
Mother Earth. A loud call must be sounded worldwide to
convert the global war machine to peaceful and life
sustaining production. Your action has helped to sound that
alarm.
Just
days ago here where I live in the state of Maine the "Bangor
Six" were found innocent by a 12 person jury for having sat
in the offices of our Republican Senator Susan Collins
trying to call on her to stop funding the U.S. occupation of
Iraq. It was the first such acquittal in the history of our
state. We pray that the outcome in your trial will be as
equally successful.
Our
best wishes to the Raytheon 9 and all your many supporters
in Ireland and around the world.
Bruce K. Gagnon
Coordinator
Global Network Against Weapons & Nuclear Power in Space
PO Box 652
Brunswick, ME 04011
We
would like to record our support for you and congratulate
you on your
excellent direct action. Wishing you the very best of luck
in your trial.
Michael Green
on behalf of Knighton Action for Peace & Justice (Mid-Wales)
Hi
all,
Just
a short word of support and encouragement for your upcoming
trial. I hope that the court follows the lead of the Pitstop
Ploughshares jury in the south of Ireland and finds that
your "criminal" act was justified.
Indeed one can argue that morally acts such as yours are
necessary.
But there should be an easier way. Our leaders should have
the honesty and integrity to admit that we do not want to
use our state resources to facilitate the production of war
machines; the invasion and exploitation of resource-rich
countries; the torture and disappearance of prisoners
illegally detained; and the maintaining of worldwide
poverty. Who are we doing this for, and why?
I
won't be able to attend your trial in Belfast but you will
have my support!
John
Lannon
Limeric
Congratulations from Byron People for Peace and Justice! We
are planning to close down the Asia Pacific Defence and
Security Exhibition in Adelaide, November 11-13 (how
appropriate is that?). Last year a bus load of us opposed
the Talisman Sabre war games held in pristine Shoalwater
Bay, near Rockhampton.
I
shall forward your details to peace activist Yutaka Ohata in
Tokyo and to the Peace Boat (maybe they will include N.
Ireland in their next voyage).
If
ever any of you are in our part of Australia don't forget to
contact me as there will always be hospitality here for you.
Best
wishes for a peaceful world,
Gareth
Gareth Smith
14 Cumbebin Park
Byron Bay
NSW 2481
Dear
Anti War Protesters
I was most concerned to hear about your arrests due to your
anti war protest. The right to protest is a basic right. I
read Eamon Mcann's article about a month or two ago. Your
situation was updated at the World Against War Conference at
the afternoon meeting. Richard Boyd Barratt spoke about your
case.
I am based in Cardiff, Wales so I am a little distanced from
your situation. Nevertheless I will make sure to keep
informed of your case. I wish you well and hope this is
resolved correctly, that is you did not commit a criminal
offence but were protesting at the disgusting business
practice of Raytheon in Derry selling material for the
apartheid wall in Israel.
In peace and solidardity
Karen Tyre
Socialist Worker
Unison Rep/local government
Respect
Cardiff, South Wales
Please keep up the resistance, and let the world know how
Ireland and many
other countries are involved in the War on Terror, or better
the War of
Terror.
In solidarity
Catherine
Cleveland, Ohio
I am
from America and I Am against the war,
We are loosing our rights One By One,
Thank you for standing up for what you believe in.
We should always have the right to protest with out being
threatened by the powers that be.
God Bless You And Take Care Of You All Our Prayers Are With
You Daily
Debra Britt
Thank you for your actions against Raytheon, and thank you
for supporting the people of Qana, the people of Lebanon.
With more voices like this, we can really make a
difference.
Kind
regards,
Brenda Abou Khalil
Friends of Lebanon, Hertfordshire
A
word about Friends of Lebanon: The key concept behind our
organisation is the encouragement of a better and more
peaceful Lebanon. We do not endorse a particular religion
or political party because it is only through accepting our
differences in the spirit of cooperation that we can indeed
achieve a better and more peaceful country. We would like
not only to help rebuild Lebanon, but also to provide the
education and understanding needed to prevent the
reoccurrence of such mindless acts of violence as last
summer’s war. As part of that work, we have recently put a
petition on-line which may be of interest to you. It
requests that the UK honour its commitment to the Oslo
Conference on Cluster Munitions by issuing a ban on the M85
submunition/cluster bomb, used widely in last summer’s war
in Lebanon. You can find information on the M85 and the
petition at our webpage
http://www.friendsoflebanon.org/index_files/M85.htm.
The petition itself is at
http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/M85submunitions/ .
I
writing to express my support for your upcoming trial and
the brave
action you took against Raytheon.
Here in Brighton we have our own arms company to try and get
rid of but
have yet to get inside and throw their computers out of the
window.
I'd like to invite your group or anyone of them to come and
speak here
about your campaign against Raytheon in Derry. I know you
will be busy
with your case, but if you have anytime and you are in the
area let us
know and we can arrange a public meeting, and depending on
numbers,
accomodation.
In solidarity
Ceri Gibbons
Brighton, England
Volunteer Defendant in EDO MBM V Smash EDO and others (2006)
I would love to add my support to this cause.
REsisting war crimes IS NOT A CRIME. I have been
living in Australia for the last couple of years and
unfortunately have not paid much attention to the
efforts of you back home.
I have been demonstrating in Perth to stop the war and
to stop war crimes.
Peace and Love
Alannah Caffrey
Good Thoughts for you from Central New Jersey
Kate Feeney
Dear
Colleagues
I have read today, with increasing anger, about the proposed
charges against
the Raytheon Peace Protesters. Whilst I have little
expectation that the
(British) Government will listen to any kind of protest,
please add my name
to the list of supporters. Peaceful direct action is a
right that we must
not lose.
Best wishes
Pete
Dr Peter F. Cuthbert
Awelon
28 Colley Lane
Sandbach
Cheshire
I am
sending support for the 'Raytheon Nine' from UCU members at
MMU Cheshire, and I would like to help in any way I can. In
the
meantime through the union we will highlight the case to all
our members at Crewe and Alsager.
In solidarity
Stewart Crehan
Comrades
I am
writing on behalf of the Belfast and District Trades Union
Council to inform you that we have signed the online
petition and to express our support for the Raytheon Nine.
Please
keep us informed of developments.
Kevin Doherty
Secretary
B&DTUC
Dear
Friends,
Please add CND Cymru's name to the list of your supporters.
I do hope you will keep us in touch with developments.
warmest welsh wishes
jill stallard
cnd cymru national secretary
Comrades and friends
We had a Solidarity rally in Dunfermline tonight (Wed) with
around a
hundred people in the City Chambers. We flagged up the
Talks at St
Andrews.
solidarity
Colin Cameron
Hello Comrades
Labour Youth would like to officially offer our support to
the Raytheon 9 Petition as we did when the occupation of
Raytheon offices took place -
Labour Youth
supports occupation of Raytheon Weapons Factory
We will mobilise in solidarity.
Graham Ó Maonaigh (Labour Youth Ireland Chairperson)
Dear
All
Thank you so much for protesting in my name. My spirits are
raised when I hear of such acts and that people still care
enough to put their own liberty at risk to try to save
others.
In friendship
Ceri Triskel
Bristol
Solidarity to the Raytheon 9 from:
Christy Moore
Cllr
Aodhan O Riordian Deputy Lord Mayor of Dublin
Dr.
Marnie Holborow (DCU)
Dr
Michael Clancy ( DCU)
Ms Kerry Lawless ( DCU- Finglas Partnership)
Prof Helena Sheehan (DCU)
Eamon Rafter ( Education and training officer -Glencree
reconciliation centre)
Des
Derwin, Vice President, Dublin Council of Trade Unions.
Aziz
Rahman
Sean
Moraghan, Tralee Anti-War Group
Dermot&Eleanor Kelly, kennedies, Milford, Armagh BT60 3NX
Cllr
Mick Barry, Socialist Party councillor Cork City Council
DrTheresa Urbainczyk (UCD)
Jeffrey St. Clair, Counterpunch
Ben
Drake, Branch Secretary, York City UNISON (personal
capacity)
Dear
Raytheon 9,
Wonderful Work at the Raytheon plant!
It is great to read of your principled resistance and even
better to
read of the massive support you have received.
Please keep up the good work.
--
John Francis Lee
1/9-10 Thanon Trairat
Mueang Chiang Rai 57000
Thailand
To
the Derry Anti-War Coalition:
Members of the Tucson, AZ Branch of the Women's
International League for Peace and Freedom wish to send
loving support for the nine people arrested at
Raytheon/Derry on August 9, 2006.
Their act of conscience inspires us all to be more visible
and outspoken in our opposition to war and corporate
profit-making from the business of killing.
The
nine should be publicly commended for their courage to act
on their convictions, not fined or imprisoned.
Please add our names in suport of the statement prepared in
defense of the brave nine anti-war activists.
Pat
Birnie for the Tucson Branch of the Women's International
League for Peace and Freedom (and a member of the Raytheon
Peacemakers, Tucson.)
5349
W. Bar X Street
Tucson, AZ 85713
USA
hello
just heard about you, and want to tell you that protests in
Norfolk are building and we have plenty going on here too
with Mildenhall on our patch.
i am busy and don't always manage to respond to the
petitions i get sent, but i did yours straight away and will
follow up with the friends i have sent it on to.
all power to war crimes inspectors everywhere and especially
Derry
ken connor
The
nine people arrested for non-violent protest against the
current
activities of Raytheon should have the charges against them
dropped. It is
very dangerous that principled, antiwar, non-violent protest
is being
stifled so harshly. Society needs good people to stand up
for what is right.
Yours sincerely,
Catherine Farrell
Dear
all activist and supporters.
I am
very happy for people now understand the importance of
stopping the weapon industries. We have to find the roots of
war and certainly Raytheon is one of these many rodden root
that kill the flowers on surface.
You will
be supported by many I am sure. The weapon industries are
the burglars of this world. The weapon industry is the first
link in the chain of war, violence and cause of death of
many citizens in areas of war and crisis.
I hope
you are strong. Can I do anything to help you at any time,
pleace do not hesitate to let me know.
Ulla
Røder
Congratulations to the Raytheon Resisters, from John Lynes,
with the Christian
Peacemaker Team in Hebron, in Palestine's occupied West
Bank.
Well done!
John
Brilliant action, people - well done ! We were talking
about it on the Peace Vigil in Bristol this Saturday.
I
don't know if this is the way to add to your petition - but
if so, please add my name.
Dr
Monica Margaret Jones
Flat
4 Burlington Court
Burlington Road
Bristol, BS6 6TN
I
wish to support those courageous 9 people who have stood for
all of us, in taking NVDA in the Raytheon offices in Derry.
Thank you to you all. And I am so sorry that events have
taken the course that they did.
I
request that charges against the 9 be dropped immediately.
Annie Bellinger
Chester
UK
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