by IMC Ireland
Tuesday, Oct. 25, 2005 at 10:25 AM
(Dublin, Ireland Oct 24th). The trial began today in Dublin of five activists who took non-violent direct action against a US warplane illegally present on Irish soil two years ago. The Pitstop Ploughshares request solidarity from other anti-war activists in their fight against the Irish state.
Ireland is a neutral country under her constitution. Since the inception of the US invasion of Iraq there have been large marches to demonstrate the Irish people's discomfort with the invasion of another nation without the sanction of international law and their dismay at the complicity of their American cousins in this act.
But in Ireland activism moved beyond protests and were focussed on preventing the refuelling of US warplanes at Shannon airport (in Co.Limerick). Several mass marches attempted to invade the airport to block the runways; the surrounding fence was pulled down and unprecedented numbers of Gardai (Irish police) and army forces were mobilised to defend the perimeter; a permanent peace camp was set up and vigils for the dead were conducted.
In the midst of this heightened security a lone woman (Mary Kelly) managed to infiltrate the airport and damage the electronics in the nose cone of an Iraq bound munitions plane. Incredibly, despite the media outcry that arose from this event, the very next night 5 more people entered the airport and the very same hanger that contained the plane.
These people, who came to be known as the Pitstop Ploughshares, were members of the pacifist, direct-action movement "Catholic Worker". They further damaged the plane, held a vigil for the dead on both sides and then were discovered and arrested.
They are now on trial by the Irish government. They request your solidarity and support.
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