View allAll Photos Tagged OccupyLSX
Protest and demonstration against economic inequality
occupylsx.org
© All rights reserved iDJ Photography 2012 idjphotography.com
#OccupyLSX protesters gather at St. Paul's Cathedral - Day One, 15.10.2011
As part of the newly-emerging global "Occupy" movement which has seen a continuous occupation of Liberty Park near Wall Street in New York, and which today saw protests in approximately 950 cities worldwide against the corruption of both bankers and governments, around 4-5,000 activists - having been blocked by police from their original objective, Paternoster Square which leads to the London Stock Exchange - converged on the front steps of St. Paul's Cathedral in the City of London to begin an occupation which. it is hoped, will oblige the financiers and bankers to realise that there are real people being grievously punished for the unpunished crimes of the banking industry which have resulted in crashing world economies and swingeing 'austerity measures' which are only paid for by the poor and middle classes. In the meanwhile the entire country has been treated to the disgraceful sight of the very people who caused this unmitigated shitstorm of greed, dishonesty and arrogance having the audacity to reward themselves with millions of pounds in bonuses, despite almost bringing the world economy to its knees.
Throughout the day the completely peaceful protesters discussed their grievances and through a series of open Spanish-style 'congresses' or 'people's assemblies' formulated a series of propositions which form the basis of the mass protest.
During the afternoon the crowd was joined by Wikileaks founder Julian Assange who arrived wearing the obligatory Guy Fawkes mask made famous in the cult film "V for Vendetta", which is worn by members of hacktivist group Anonymous. Assange, wearing an electronic tag on his leg imposed by the British court as he is under house arrest awaiting deportation to Sweden - was accompanied by two police detectives, one of whom frequently made a point of holding Assange's shoulder, as if they thought for one second that one of the most identifiable faces in the world right now would ever be able to make a run for it, surrounded completely by a cordon of upwards of 3-400 police.
The only mindless, vindictive violence came from some members of the Territorial Support Group who were militaristic in their brutality towards completely passive citizens when they decided to rush the steps of the cathedral once darkness fell, during which assault they stamped on people's heads and bodies, punched and kicked several people and were seen to rip the hijab off one girl's head. All of this was to prove or gain nothing whatsoever strategically except the ability of the police to be - in my opinion as I watched it from very close quarters - criminally, dangerously violent to passive, peaceful protesters who no longer, it seems, are protected from violence by the agents of the State. When the police commit violence everyone - especially the police - knows it is very difficult to go after them to demand legal justice.
Several hours later the police abandoned the steps at the request of Cathedral officials, leaving everyone to wonder what was the primary motive of the senior officer who gave the order to lead this attack on private land when no crime had been committed. This was Abuse of Process in many people's opinion.
To follow the progress of #OccupyLSX and #OccupyLondon visit their website here, and follow them on Twitter HERE and HERE.
To follow the progress of the second protest camp set up in Finsbury Square on 22.10.2011 (photos soon) visit BeyondClicktivism and follow them on Twitter
All photos © 2011 Pete Riches
Do not reproduce, alter or reblog my images without my permission.
Hi-Res versions of these files are available on application
a 'happening' today at piccadilly circus which was peacefully occupied for the afternoon by members of the occupy movement and thier supporters. in a carnival atmosphere they waved banners and banged drums despite the drizzly weather conditions.
"Capture a moment of silence in the never ending noise of the world". - Pierre Belhassen
A sense of urgency and passion in this man's expression - somehow seems to create a feeling of a bubble in time...as we are on a precipice, make no doubt about it.
Bradley Manning vigil at US Embassy - London 17.12.2011
As part of a 14-country coordinated rally in support of Bradley Manning - the young U.S. Army intelligence analyst who is accused of leaking the “Afghan War Logs” to Wikileaks - a group of supporters of Manning representing Friends of Bradley Manning UK, Veterans for Peace UK, Payday Men's Network, Queer Friends of Bradley Manning and OccupyLSX gathered outside the US Embassy in Grosvenor Square in London's Mayfair for a vigil during which many speakers voiced their extreme concern for the well-being of Manning, and to praise his brave actions.
Manning has been held in U.S. military custody for 18 months. He faces multiple charges which would lead to a lifetime of imprisonment if convicted for allegedly sharing a video of a U.S. helicopter attack that killed 11 civilians and seriously wounded two children in Baghdad, Iraq with the WikiLeaks website. The footage had been withheld by the U.S.military from those trying to discover the truth about the attacks. Manning is also accused of leaking what is now referred to as 'The Afghan Logs' - more than 91,000 documents of classified U.S. military logs spanning six years of U.S. occupation of Afghanistan. His pre-trial hearing began before a military tribunal on Friday 16th December at Fort Meade, Maryland, USA, cynically arranged to coincide with Bradley Manning's 24th birthday.
Dreadlocked supporter of Bradley Manning, Australian-born Catholic Worker, Christian anarchist and non-violent resister Ciaron O'Reilly told the crowd the latest news from Manning's hearing in Fort Mead, and went on to describe the torture and abuse Manning has endured at the hands of his completely unnaccountable gaolers, first in Quantico and now in Fort Meade. During the 1991 Gulf War, O'Reilly was a member of the 'ANZUS Ploughshares' group which attacked a B-52 Bomber which was on 20-minute scramble alert, at Griffiss AFB near Utica, New York. Their actions put the aircraft out of action for the next two months at the height of the US bombing campaign in Iraq. Together with the other members of the group, he was arrested and sentenced to 13 months in the US penal system. After his return to Australia, O'Reilly took part in the 'Jabiluka Ploughshares' group action which disabled uranium mining equipment in the Northern Territory of Australia in 1998.
Veterans for Peace UK's Ben Griffin, a former British SAS soldier who had been discharged from the army after he refused to be redeployed to Iraq - citing not only the "illegal" tactics of United States troops and the policies of coalition forces but also that the invasion itself was illegal, being contrary to international law - spoke to those assembled to emphasise the importance of war resisters. He told the protesters that hearing that even small numbers of people in the outside World were supporting them by protesting gave a huge emotional lift to all those Conscientious Objecters currently in military prisons.
“If we are not actively engaged in war resistance then we should be offering our support to those that are". said Griffin. "If it is true that Bradley Manning leaked The Afghan War Logs, The Iraq War Logs and the Collateral Murder video then the last place he should be is in prison. As far as I am concerned he is a Hero. Our countries have committed terrible crimes in Iraq and Afghanistan and it is only right that we should all know exactly what has been happening.”
Michael Lyons - also from Veterans for Peace UK - spoke about how reading the Afghan War Logs had confirmed his doubts about the legality of the actions carried out by coalition forces in Afghanistan. In 2010 Lyons - a former Navy medic - applied for Conscientious Objector status after reading the “Afghan War Logs” released by Wikileaks and refused to carry out rifle training in preparation for deployment to Afghanistan. He was sentenced to 7 months in Colchester military prison and was released in November 2011.
All photos © 2012 Pete Riches
Do not reproduce, alter or reblog my images without my written permission.
Hi-Res versions of these files are available for license on application. NUJ rates apply.
Bradley Manning vigil at US Embassy - London 17.12.2011
As part of a 14-country coordinated rally in support of Bradley Manning - the young U.S. Army intelligence analyst who is accused of leaking the “Afghan War Logs” to Wikileaks - a group of supporters of Manning representing Friends of Bradley Manning UK, Veterans for Peace UK, Payday Men's Network, Queer Friends of Bradley Manning and OccupyLSX gathered outside the US Embassy in Grosvenor Square in London's Mayfair for a vigil during which many speakers voiced their extreme concern for the well-being of Manning, and to praise his brave actions.
Manning has been held in U.S. military custody for 18 months. He faces multiple charges which would lead to a lifetime of imprisonment if convicted for allegedly sharing a video of a U.S. helicopter attack that killed 11 civilians and seriously wounded two children in Baghdad, Iraq with the WikiLeaks website. The footage had been withheld by the U.S.military from those trying to discover the truth about the attacks. Manning is also accused of leaking what is now referred to as 'The Afghan Logs' - more than 91,000 documents of classified U.S. military logs spanning six years of U.S. occupation of Afghanistan. His pre-trial hearing began before a military tribunal on Friday 16th December at Fort Meade, Maryland, USA, cynically arranged to coincide with Bradley Manning's 24th birthday.
Dreadlocked supporter of Bradley Manning, Australian-born Catholic Worker, Christian anarchist and non-violent resister Ciaron O'Reilly told the crowd the latest news from Manning's hearing in Fort Mead, and went on to describe the torture and abuse Manning has endured at the hands of his completely unnaccountable gaolers, first in Quantico and now in Fort Meade. During the 1991 Gulf War, O'Reilly was a member of the 'ANZUS Ploughshares' group which attacked a B-52 Bomber which was on 20-minute scramble alert, at Griffiss AFB near Utica, New York. Their actions put the aircraft out of action for the next two months at the height of the US bombing campaign in Iraq. Together with the other members of the group, he was arrested and sentenced to 13 months in the US penal system. After his return to Australia, O'Reilly took part in the 'Jabiluka Ploughshares' group action which disabled uranium mining equipment in the Northern Territory of Australia in 1998.
Veterans for Peace UK's Ben Griffin, a former British SAS soldier who had been discharged from the army after he refused to be redeployed to Iraq - citing not only the "illegal" tactics of United States troops and the policies of coalition forces but also that the invasion itself was illegal, being contrary to international law - spoke to those assembled to emphasise the importance of war resisters. He told the protesters that hearing that even small numbers of people in the outside World were supporting them by protesting gave a huge emotional lift to all those Conscientious Objecters currently in military prisons.
“If we are not actively engaged in war resistance then we should be offering our support to those that are". said Griffin. "If it is true that Bradley Manning leaked The Afghan War Logs, The Iraq War Logs and the Collateral Murder video then the last place he should be is in prison. As far as I am concerned he is a Hero. Our countries have committed terrible crimes in Iraq and Afghanistan and it is only right that we should all know exactly what has been happening.”
Michael Lyons - also from Veterans for Peace UK - spoke about how reading the Afghan War Logs had confirmed his doubts about the legality of the actions carried out by coalition forces in Afghanistan. In 2010 Lyons - a former Navy medic - applied for Conscientious Objector status after reading the “Afghan War Logs” released by Wikileaks and refused to carry out rifle training in preparation for deployment to Afghanistan. He was sentenced to 7 months in Colchester military prison and was released in November 2011.
All photos © 2012 Pete Riches
Do not reproduce, alter or reblog my images without my written permission.
Hi-Res versions of these files are available for license on application. NUJ rates apply.
Bradley Manning vigil at US Embassy - London 17.12.2011
As part of a 14-country coordinated rally in support of Bradley Manning - the young U.S. Army intelligence analyst who is accused of leaking the “Afghan War Logs” to Wikileaks - a group of supporters of Manning representing Friends of Bradley Manning UK, Veterans for Peace UK, Payday Men's Network, Queer Friends of Bradley Manning and OccupyLSX gathered outside the US Embassy in Grosvenor Square in London's Mayfair for a vigil during which many speakers voiced their extreme concern for the well-being of Manning, and to praise his brave actions.
Manning has been held in U.S. military custody for 18 months. He faces multiple charges which would lead to a lifetime of imprisonment if convicted for allegedly sharing a video of a U.S. helicopter attack that killed 11 civilians and seriously wounded two children in Baghdad, Iraq with the WikiLeaks website. The footage had been withheld by the U.S.military from those trying to discover the truth about the attacks. Manning is also accused of leaking what is now referred to as 'The Afghan Logs' - more than 91,000 documents of classified U.S. military logs spanning six years of U.S. occupation of Afghanistan. His pre-trial hearing began before a military tribunal on Friday 16th December at Fort Meade, Maryland, USA, cynically arranged to coincide with Bradley Manning's 24th birthday.
Dreadlocked supporter of Bradley Manning, Australian-born Catholic Worker, Christian anarchist and non-violent resister Ciaron O'Reilly told the crowd the latest news from Manning's hearing in Fort Mead, and went on to describe the torture and abuse Manning has endured at the hands of his completely unnaccountable gaolers, first in Quantico and now in Fort Meade. During the 1991 Gulf War, O'Reilly was a member of the 'ANZUS Ploughshares' group which attacked a B-52 Bomber which was on 20-minute scramble alert, at Griffiss AFB near Utica, New York. Their actions put the aircraft out of action for the next two months at the height of the US bombing campaign in Iraq. Together with the other members of the group, he was arrested and sentenced to 13 months in the US penal system. After his return to Australia, O'Reilly took part in the 'Jabiluka Ploughshares' group action which disabled uranium mining equipment in the Northern Territory of Australia in 1998.
Veterans for Peace UK's Ben Griffin, a former British SAS soldier who had been discharged from the army after he refused to be redeployed to Iraq - citing not only the "illegal" tactics of United States troops and the policies of coalition forces but also that the invasion itself was illegal, being contrary to international law - spoke to those assembled to emphasise the importance of war resisters. He told the protesters that hearing that even small numbers of people in the outside World were supporting them by protesting gave a huge emotional lift to all those Conscientious Objecters currently in military prisons.
“If we are not actively engaged in war resistance then we should be offering our support to those that are". said Griffin. "If it is true that Bradley Manning leaked The Afghan War Logs, The Iraq War Logs and the Collateral Murder video then the last place he should be is in prison. As far as I am concerned he is a Hero. Our countries have committed terrible crimes in Iraq and Afghanistan and it is only right that we should all know exactly what has been happening.”
Michael Lyons - also from Veterans for Peace UK - spoke about how reading the Afghan War Logs had confirmed his doubts about the legality of the actions carried out by coalition forces in Afghanistan. In 2010 Lyons - a former Navy medic - applied for Conscientious Objector status after reading the “Afghan War Logs” released by Wikileaks and refused to carry out rifle training in preparation for deployment to Afghanistan. He was sentenced to 7 months in Colchester military prison and was released in November 2011.
All photos © 2012 Pete Riches
Do not reproduce, alter or reblog my images without my written permission.
Hi-Res versions of these files are available for license on application. NUJ rates apply.
#OccupyLSX protesters gather at St. Paul's Cathedral - Day One, 15.10.2011
As part of the newly-emerging global "Occupy" movement which has seen a continuous occupation of Liberty Park near Wall Street in New York, and which today saw protests in approximately 950 cities worldwide against the corruption of both bankers and governments, around 4-5,000 activists - having been blocked by police from their original objective, Paternoster Square which leads to the London Stock Exchange - converged on the front steps of St. Paul's Cathedral in the City of London to begin an occupation which. it is hoped, will oblige the financiers and bankers to realise that there are real people being grievously punished for the unpunished crimes of the banking industry which have resulted in crashing world economies and swingeing 'austerity measures' which are only paid for by the poor and middle classes. In the meanwhile the entire country has been treated to the disgraceful sight of the very people who caused this unmitigated shitstorm of greed, dishonesty and arrogance having the audacity to reward themselves with millions of pounds in bonuses, despite almost bringing the world economy to its knees.
Throughout the day the completely peaceful protesters discussed their grievances and through a series of open Spanish-style 'congresses' or 'people's assemblies' formulated a series of propositions which form the basis of the mass protest.
During the afternoon the crowd was joined by Wikileaks founder Julian Assange who arrived wearing the obligatory Guy Fawkes mask made famous in the cult film "V for Vendetta", which is worn by members of hacktivist group Anonymous. Assange, wearing an electronic tag on his leg imposed by the British court as he is under house arrest awaiting deportation to Sweden - was accompanied by two police detectives, one of whom frequently made a point of holding Assange's shoulder, as if they thought for one second that one of the most identifiable faces in the world right now would ever be able to make a run for it, surrounded completely by a cordon of upwards of 3-400 police.
The only mindless, vindictive violence came from some members of the Territorial Support Group who were militaristic in their brutality towards completely passive citizens when they decided to rush the steps of the cathedral once darkness fell, during which assault they stamped on people's heads and bodies, punched and kicked several people and were seen to rip the hijab off one girl's head. All of this was to prove or gain nothing whatsoever strategically except the ability of the police to be - in my opinion as I watched it from very close quarters - criminally, dangerously violent to passive, peaceful protesters who no longer, it seems, are protected from violence by the agents of the State. When the police commit violence everyone - especially the police - knows it is very difficult to go after them to demand legal justice.
Several hours later the police abandoned the steps at the request of Cathedral officials, leaving everyone to wonder what was the primary motive of the senior officer who gave the order to lead this attack on private land when no crime had been committed. This was Abuse of Process in many people's opinion.
To follow the progress of #OccupyLSX and #OccupyLondon visit their website here, and follow them on Twitter HERE and HERE.
To follow the progress of the second protest camp set up in Finsbury Square on 22.10.2011 (photos soon) visit BeyondClicktivism and follow them on Twitter
All photos © 2011 Pete Riches
Do not reproduce, alter or reblog my images without my permission.
Hi-Res versions of these files are available on application
Bradley Manning vigil at US Embassy - London 17.12.2011
As part of a 14-country coordinated rally in support of Bradley Manning - the young U.S. Army intelligence analyst who is accused of leaking the “Afghan War Logs” to Wikileaks - a group of supporters of Manning representing Friends of Bradley Manning UK, Veterans for Peace UK, Payday Men's Network, Queer Friends of Bradley Manning and OccupyLSX gathered outside the US Embassy in Grosvenor Square in London's Mayfair for a vigil during which many speakers voiced their extreme concern for the well-being of Manning, and to praise his brave actions.
Manning has been held in U.S. military custody for 18 months. He faces multiple charges which would lead to a lifetime of imprisonment if convicted for allegedly sharing a video of a U.S. helicopter attack that killed 11 civilians and seriously wounded two children in Baghdad, Iraq with the WikiLeaks website. The footage had been withheld by the U.S.military from those trying to discover the truth about the attacks. Manning is also accused of leaking what is now referred to as 'The Afghan Logs' - more than 91,000 documents of classified U.S. military logs spanning six years of U.S. occupation of Afghanistan. His pre-trial hearing began before a military tribunal on Friday 16th December at Fort Meade, Maryland, USA, cynically arranged to coincide with Bradley Manning's 24th birthday.
Dreadlocked supporter of Bradley Manning, Australian-born Catholic Worker, Christian anarchist and non-violent resister Ciaron O'Reilly told the crowd the latest news from Manning's hearing in Fort Mead, and went on to describe the torture and abuse Manning has endured at the hands of his completely unnaccountable gaolers, first in Quantico and now in Fort Meade. During the 1991 Gulf War, O'Reilly was a member of the 'ANZUS Ploughshares' group which attacked a B-52 Bomber which was on 20-minute scramble alert, at Griffiss AFB near Utica, New York. Their actions put the aircraft out of action for the next two months at the height of the US bombing campaign in Iraq. Together with the other members of the group, he was arrested and sentenced to 13 months in the US penal system. After his return to Australia, O'Reilly took part in the 'Jabiluka Ploughshares' group action which disabled uranium mining equipment in the Northern Territory of Australia in 1998.
Veterans for Peace UK's Ben Griffin, a former British SAS soldier who had been discharged from the army after he refused to be redeployed to Iraq - citing not only the "illegal" tactics of United States troops and the policies of coalition forces but also that the invasion itself was illegal, being contrary to international law - spoke to those assembled to emphasise the importance of war resisters. He told the protesters that hearing that even small numbers of people in the outside World were supporting them by protesting gave a huge emotional lift to all those Conscientious Objecters currently in military prisons.
“If we are not actively engaged in war resistance then we should be offering our support to those that are". said Griffin. "If it is true that Bradley Manning leaked The Afghan War Logs, The Iraq War Logs and the Collateral Murder video then the last place he should be is in prison. As far as I am concerned he is a Hero. Our countries have committed terrible crimes in Iraq and Afghanistan and it is only right that we should all know exactly what has been happening.”
Michael Lyons - also from Veterans for Peace UK - spoke about how reading the Afghan War Logs had confirmed his doubts about the legality of the actions carried out by coalition forces in Afghanistan. In 2010 Lyons - a former Navy medic - applied for Conscientious Objector status after reading the “Afghan War Logs” released by Wikileaks and refused to carry out rifle training in preparation for deployment to Afghanistan. He was sentenced to 7 months in Colchester military prison and was released in November 2011.
All photos © 2012 Pete Riches
Do not reproduce, alter or reblog my images without my written permission.
Hi-Res versions of these files are available for license on application. NUJ rates apply.
Bradley Manning vigil at US Embassy - London 17.12.2011
As part of a 14-country coordinated rally in support of Bradley Manning - the young U.S. Army intelligence analyst who is accused of leaking the “Afghan War Logs” to Wikileaks - a group of supporters of Manning representing Friends of Bradley Manning UK, Veterans for Peace UK, Payday Men's Network, Queer Friends of Bradley Manning and OccupyLSX gathered outside the US Embassy in Grosvenor Square in London's Mayfair for a vigil during which many speakers voiced their extreme concern for the well-being of Manning, and to praise his brave actions.
Manning has been held in U.S. military custody for 18 months. He faces multiple charges which would lead to a lifetime of imprisonment if convicted for allegedly sharing a video of a U.S. helicopter attack that killed 11 civilians and seriously wounded two children in Baghdad, Iraq with the WikiLeaks website. The footage had been withheld by the U.S.military from those trying to discover the truth about the attacks. Manning is also accused of leaking what is now referred to as 'The Afghan Logs' - more than 91,000 documents of classified U.S. military logs spanning six years of U.S. occupation of Afghanistan. His pre-trial hearing began before a military tribunal on Friday 16th December at Fort Meade, Maryland, USA, cynically arranged to coincide with Bradley Manning's 24th birthday.
Dreadlocked supporter of Bradley Manning, Australian-born Catholic Worker, Christian anarchist and non-violent resister Ciaron O'Reilly told the crowd the latest news from Manning's hearing in Fort Mead, and went on to describe the torture and abuse Manning has endured at the hands of his completely unnaccountable gaolers, first in Quantico and now in Fort Meade. During the 1991 Gulf War, O'Reilly was a member of the 'ANZUS Ploughshares' group which attacked a B-52 Bomber which was on 20-minute scramble alert, at Griffiss AFB near Utica, New York. Their actions put the aircraft out of action for the next two months at the height of the US bombing campaign in Iraq. Together with the other members of the group, he was arrested and sentenced to 13 months in the US penal system. After his return to Australia, O'Reilly took part in the 'Jabiluka Ploughshares' group action which disabled uranium mining equipment in the Northern Territory of Australia in 1998.
Veterans for Peace UK's Ben Griffin, a former British SAS soldier who had been discharged from the army after he refused to be redeployed to Iraq - citing not only the "illegal" tactics of United States troops and the policies of coalition forces but also that the invasion itself was illegal, being contrary to international law - spoke to those assembled to emphasise the importance of war resisters. He told the protesters that hearing that even small numbers of people in the outside World were supporting them by protesting gave a huge emotional lift to all those Conscientious Objecters currently in military prisons.
“If we are not actively engaged in war resistance then we should be offering our support to those that are". said Griffin. "If it is true that Bradley Manning leaked The Afghan War Logs, The Iraq War Logs and the Collateral Murder video then the last place he should be is in prison. As far as I am concerned he is a Hero. Our countries have committed terrible crimes in Iraq and Afghanistan and it is only right that we should all know exactly what has been happening.”
Michael Lyons - also from Veterans for Peace UK - spoke about how reading the Afghan War Logs had confirmed his doubts about the legality of the actions carried out by coalition forces in Afghanistan. In 2010 Lyons - a former Navy medic - applied for Conscientious Objector status after reading the “Afghan War Logs” released by Wikileaks and refused to carry out rifle training in preparation for deployment to Afghanistan. He was sentenced to 7 months in Colchester military prison and was released in November 2011.
All photos © 2012 Pete Riches
Do not reproduce, alter or reblog my images without my written permission.
Hi-Res versions of these files are available for license on application. NUJ rates apply.
Bradley Manning vigil at US Embassy - London 17.12.2011
As part of a 14-country coordinated rally in support of Bradley Manning - the young U.S. Army intelligence analyst who is accused of leaking the “Afghan War Logs” to Wikileaks - a group of supporters of Manning representing Friends of Bradley Manning UK, Veterans for Peace UK, Payday Men's Network, Queer Friends of Bradley Manning and OccupyLSX gathered outside the US Embassy in Grosvenor Square in London's Mayfair for a vigil during which many speakers voiced their extreme concern for the well-being of Manning, and to praise his brave actions.
Manning has been held in U.S. military custody for 18 months. He faces multiple charges which would lead to a lifetime of imprisonment if convicted for allegedly sharing a video of a U.S. helicopter attack that killed 11 civilians and seriously wounded two children in Baghdad, Iraq with the WikiLeaks website. The footage had been withheld by the U.S.military from those trying to discover the truth about the attacks. Manning is also accused of leaking what is now referred to as 'The Afghan Logs' - more than 91,000 documents of classified U.S. military logs spanning six years of U.S. occupation of Afghanistan. His pre-trial hearing began before a military tribunal on Friday 16th December at Fort Meade, Maryland, USA, cynically arranged to coincide with Bradley Manning's 24th birthday.
Dreadlocked supporter of Bradley Manning, Australian-born Catholic Worker, Christian anarchist and non-violent resister Ciaron O'Reilly told the crowd the latest news from Manning's hearing in Fort Mead, and went on to describe the torture and abuse Manning has endured at the hands of his completely unnaccountable gaolers, first in Quantico and now in Fort Meade. During the 1991 Gulf War, O'Reilly was a member of the 'ANZUS Ploughshares' group which attacked a B-52 Bomber which was on 20-minute scramble alert, at Griffiss AFB near Utica, New York. Their actions put the aircraft out of action for the next two months at the height of the US bombing campaign in Iraq. Together with the other members of the group, he was arrested and sentenced to 13 months in the US penal system. After his return to Australia, O'Reilly took part in the 'Jabiluka Ploughshares' group action which disabled uranium mining equipment in the Northern Territory of Australia in 1998.
Veterans for Peace UK's Ben Griffin, a former British SAS soldier who had been discharged from the army after he refused to be redeployed to Iraq - citing not only the "illegal" tactics of United States troops and the policies of coalition forces but also that the invasion itself was illegal, being contrary to international law - spoke to those assembled to emphasise the importance of war resisters. He told the protesters that hearing that even small numbers of people in the outside World were supporting them by protesting gave a huge emotional lift to all those Conscientious Objecters currently in military prisons.
“If we are not actively engaged in war resistance then we should be offering our support to those that are". said Griffin. "If it is true that Bradley Manning leaked The Afghan War Logs, The Iraq War Logs and the Collateral Murder video then the last place he should be is in prison. As far as I am concerned he is a Hero. Our countries have committed terrible crimes in Iraq and Afghanistan and it is only right that we should all know exactly what has been happening.”
Michael Lyons - also from Veterans for Peace UK - spoke about how reading the Afghan War Logs had confirmed his doubts about the legality of the actions carried out by coalition forces in Afghanistan. In 2010 Lyons - a former Navy medic - applied for Conscientious Objector status after reading the “Afghan War Logs” released by Wikileaks and refused to carry out rifle training in preparation for deployment to Afghanistan. He was sentenced to 7 months in Colchester military prison and was released in November 2011.
All photos © 2012 Pete Riches
Do not reproduce, alter or reblog my images without my written permission.
Hi-Res versions of these files are available for license on application. NUJ rates apply.
Bradley Manning vigil at US Embassy - London 17.12.2011
As part of a 14-country coordinated rally in support of Bradley Manning - the young U.S. Army intelligence analyst who is accused of leaking the “Afghan War Logs” to Wikileaks - a group of supporters of Manning representing Friends of Bradley Manning UK, Veterans for Peace UK, Payday Men's Network, Queer Friends of Bradley Manning and OccupyLSX gathered outside the US Embassy in Grosvenor Square in London's Mayfair for a vigil during which many speakers voiced their extreme concern for the well-being of Manning, and to praise his brave actions.
Manning has been held in U.S. military custody for 18 months. He faces multiple charges which would lead to a lifetime of imprisonment if convicted for allegedly sharing a video of a U.S. helicopter attack that killed 11 civilians and seriously wounded two children in Baghdad, Iraq with the WikiLeaks website. The footage had been withheld by the U.S.military from those trying to discover the truth about the attacks. Manning is also accused of leaking what is now referred to as 'The Afghan Logs' - more than 91,000 documents of classified U.S. military logs spanning six years of U.S. occupation of Afghanistan. His pre-trial hearing began before a military tribunal on Friday 16th December at Fort Meade, Maryland, USA, cynically arranged to coincide with Bradley Manning's 24th birthday.
Dreadlocked supporter of Bradley Manning, Australian-born Catholic Worker, Christian anarchist and non-violent resister Ciaron O'Reilly told the crowd the latest news from Manning's hearing in Fort Mead, and went on to describe the torture and abuse Manning has endured at the hands of his completely unnaccountable gaolers, first in Quantico and now in Fort Meade. During the 1991 Gulf War, O'Reilly was a member of the 'ANZUS Ploughshares' group which attacked a B-52 Bomber which was on 20-minute scramble alert, at Griffiss AFB near Utica, New York. Their actions put the aircraft out of action for the next two months at the height of the US bombing campaign in Iraq. Together with the other members of the group, he was arrested and sentenced to 13 months in the US penal system. After his return to Australia, O'Reilly took part in the 'Jabiluka Ploughshares' group action which disabled uranium mining equipment in the Northern Territory of Australia in 1998.
Veterans for Peace UK's Ben Griffin, a former British SAS soldier who had been discharged from the army after he refused to be redeployed to Iraq - citing not only the "illegal" tactics of United States troops and the policies of coalition forces but also that the invasion itself was illegal, being contrary to international law - spoke to those assembled to emphasise the importance of war resisters. He told the protesters that hearing that even small numbers of people in the outside World were supporting them by protesting gave a huge emotional lift to all those Conscientious Objecters currently in military prisons.
“If we are not actively engaged in war resistance then we should be offering our support to those that are". said Griffin. "If it is true that Bradley Manning leaked The Afghan War Logs, The Iraq War Logs and the Collateral Murder video then the last place he should be is in prison. As far as I am concerned he is a Hero. Our countries have committed terrible crimes in Iraq and Afghanistan and it is only right that we should all know exactly what has been happening.”
Michael Lyons - also from Veterans for Peace UK - spoke about how reading the Afghan War Logs had confirmed his doubts about the legality of the actions carried out by coalition forces in Afghanistan. In 2010 Lyons - a former Navy medic - applied for Conscientious Objector status after reading the “Afghan War Logs” released by Wikileaks and refused to carry out rifle training in preparation for deployment to Afghanistan. He was sentenced to 7 months in Colchester military prison and was released in November 2011.
All photos © 2012 Pete Riches
Do not reproduce, alter or reblog my images without my written permission.
Hi-Res versions of these files are available for license on application. NUJ rates apply.
Bradley Manning vigil at US Embassy - London 17.12.2011
As part of a 14-country coordinated rally in support of Bradley Manning - the young U.S. Army intelligence analyst who is accused of leaking the “Afghan War Logs” to Wikileaks - a group of supporters of Manning representing Friends of Bradley Manning UK, Veterans for Peace UK, Payday Men's Network, Queer Friends of Bradley Manning and OccupyLSX gathered outside the US Embassy in Grosvenor Square in London's Mayfair for a vigil during which many speakers voiced their extreme concern for the well-being of Manning, and to praise his brave actions.
Manning has been held in U.S. military custody for 18 months. He faces multiple charges which would lead to a lifetime of imprisonment if convicted for allegedly sharing a video of a U.S. helicopter attack that killed 11 civilians and seriously wounded two children in Baghdad, Iraq with the WikiLeaks website. The footage had been withheld by the U.S.military from those trying to discover the truth about the attacks. Manning is also accused of leaking what is now referred to as 'The Afghan Logs' - more than 91,000 documents of classified U.S. military logs spanning six years of U.S. occupation of Afghanistan. His pre-trial hearing began before a military tribunal on Friday 16th December at Fort Meade, Maryland, USA, cynically arranged to coincide with Bradley Manning's 24th birthday.
Dreadlocked supporter of Bradley Manning, Australian-born Catholic Worker, Christian anarchist and non-violent resister Ciaron O'Reilly told the crowd the latest news from Manning's hearing in Fort Mead, and went on to describe the torture and abuse Manning has endured at the hands of his completely unnaccountable gaolers, first in Quantico and now in Fort Meade. During the 1991 Gulf War, O'Reilly was a member of the 'ANZUS Ploughshares' group which attacked a B-52 Bomber which was on 20-minute scramble alert, at Griffiss AFB near Utica, New York. Their actions put the aircraft out of action for the next two months at the height of the US bombing campaign in Iraq. Together with the other members of the group, he was arrested and sentenced to 13 months in the US penal system. After his return to Australia, O'Reilly took part in the 'Jabiluka Ploughshares' group action which disabled uranium mining equipment in the Northern Territory of Australia in 1998.
Veterans for Peace UK's Ben Griffin, a former British SAS soldier who had been discharged from the army after he refused to be redeployed to Iraq - citing not only the "illegal" tactics of United States troops and the policies of coalition forces but also that the invasion itself was illegal, being contrary to international law - spoke to those assembled to emphasise the importance of war resisters. He told the protesters that hearing that even small numbers of people in the outside World were supporting them by protesting gave a huge emotional lift to all those Conscientious Objecters currently in military prisons.
“If we are not actively engaged in war resistance then we should be offering our support to those that are". said Griffin. "If it is true that Bradley Manning leaked The Afghan War Logs, The Iraq War Logs and the Collateral Murder video then the last place he should be is in prison. As far as I am concerned he is a Hero. Our countries have committed terrible crimes in Iraq and Afghanistan and it is only right that we should all know exactly what has been happening.”
Michael Lyons - also from Veterans for Peace UK - spoke about how reading the Afghan War Logs had confirmed his doubts about the legality of the actions carried out by coalition forces in Afghanistan. In 2010 Lyons - a former Navy medic - applied for Conscientious Objector status after reading the “Afghan War Logs” released by Wikileaks and refused to carry out rifle training in preparation for deployment to Afghanistan. He was sentenced to 7 months in Colchester military prison and was released in November 2011.
All photos © 2012 Pete Riches
Do not reproduce, alter or reblog my images without my written permission.
Hi-Res versions of these files are available for license on application. NUJ rates apply.
Bradley Manning vigil at US Embassy - London 17.12.2011
As part of a 14-country coordinated rally in support of Bradley Manning - the young U.S. Army intelligence analyst who is accused of leaking the “Afghan War Logs” to Wikileaks - a group of supporters of Manning representing Friends of Bradley Manning UK, Veterans for Peace UK, Payday Men's Network, Queer Friends of Bradley Manning and OccupyLSX gathered outside the US Embassy in Grosvenor Square in London's Mayfair for a vigil during which many speakers voiced their extreme concern for the well-being of Manning, and to praise his brave actions.
Manning has been held in U.S. military custody for 18 months. He faces multiple charges which would lead to a lifetime of imprisonment if convicted for allegedly sharing a video of a U.S. helicopter attack that killed 11 civilians and seriously wounded two children in Baghdad, Iraq with the WikiLeaks website. The footage had been withheld by the U.S.military from those trying to discover the truth about the attacks. Manning is also accused of leaking what is now referred to as 'The Afghan Logs' - more than 91,000 documents of classified U.S. military logs spanning six years of U.S. occupation of Afghanistan. His pre-trial hearing began before a military tribunal on Friday 16th December at Fort Meade, Maryland, USA, cynically arranged to coincide with Bradley Manning's 24th birthday.
Dreadlocked supporter of Bradley Manning, Australian-born Catholic Worker, Christian anarchist and non-violent resister Ciaron O'Reilly told the crowd the latest news from Manning's hearing in Fort Mead, and went on to describe the torture and abuse Manning has endured at the hands of his completely unnaccountable gaolers, first in Quantico and now in Fort Meade. During the 1991 Gulf War, O'Reilly was a member of the 'ANZUS Ploughshares' group which attacked a B-52 Bomber which was on 20-minute scramble alert, at Griffiss AFB near Utica, New York. Their actions put the aircraft out of action for the next two months at the height of the US bombing campaign in Iraq. Together with the other members of the group, he was arrested and sentenced to 13 months in the US penal system. After his return to Australia, O'Reilly took part in the 'Jabiluka Ploughshares' group action which disabled uranium mining equipment in the Northern Territory of Australia in 1998.
Veterans for Peace UK's Ben Griffin, a former British SAS soldier who had been discharged from the army after he refused to be redeployed to Iraq - citing not only the "illegal" tactics of United States troops and the policies of coalition forces but also that the invasion itself was illegal, being contrary to international law - spoke to those assembled to emphasise the importance of war resisters. He told the protesters that hearing that even small numbers of people in the outside World were supporting them by protesting gave a huge emotional lift to all those Conscientious Objecters currently in military prisons.
“If we are not actively engaged in war resistance then we should be offering our support to those that are". said Griffin. "If it is true that Bradley Manning leaked The Afghan War Logs, The Iraq War Logs and the Collateral Murder video then the last place he should be is in prison. As far as I am concerned he is a Hero. Our countries have committed terrible crimes in Iraq and Afghanistan and it is only right that we should all know exactly what has been happening.”
Michael Lyons - also from Veterans for Peace UK - spoke about how reading the Afghan War Logs had confirmed his doubts about the legality of the actions carried out by coalition forces in Afghanistan. In 2010 Lyons - a former Navy medic - applied for Conscientious Objector status after reading the “Afghan War Logs” released by Wikileaks and refused to carry out rifle training in preparation for deployment to Afghanistan. He was sentenced to 7 months in Colchester military prison and was released in November 2011.
All photos © 2012 Pete Riches
Do not reproduce, alter or reblog my images without my written permission.
Hi-Res versions of these files are available for license on application. NUJ rates apply.
Bradley Manning vigil at US Embassy - London 17.12.2011
As part of a 14-country coordinated rally in support of Bradley Manning - the young U.S. Army intelligence analyst who is accused of leaking the “Afghan War Logs” to Wikileaks - a group of supporters of Manning representing Friends of Bradley Manning UK, Veterans for Peace UK, Payday Men's Network, Queer Friends of Bradley Manning and OccupyLSX gathered outside the US Embassy in Grosvenor Square in London's Mayfair for a vigil during which many speakers voiced their extreme concern for the well-being of Manning, and to praise his brave actions.
Manning has been held in U.S. military custody for 18 months. He faces multiple charges which would lead to a lifetime of imprisonment if convicted for allegedly sharing a video of a U.S. helicopter attack that killed 11 civilians and seriously wounded two children in Baghdad, Iraq with the WikiLeaks website. The footage had been withheld by the U.S.military from those trying to discover the truth about the attacks. Manning is also accused of leaking what is now referred to as 'The Afghan Logs' - more than 91,000 documents of classified U.S. military logs spanning six years of U.S. occupation of Afghanistan. His pre-trial hearing began before a military tribunal on Friday 16th December at Fort Meade, Maryland, USA, cynically arranged to coincide with Bradley Manning's 24th birthday.
Dreadlocked supporter of Bradley Manning, Australian-born Catholic Worker, Christian anarchist and non-violent resister Ciaron O'Reilly told the crowd the latest news from Manning's hearing in Fort Mead, and went on to describe the torture and abuse Manning has endured at the hands of his completely unnaccountable gaolers, first in Quantico and now in Fort Meade. During the 1991 Gulf War, O'Reilly was a member of the 'ANZUS Ploughshares' group which attacked a B-52 Bomber which was on 20-minute scramble alert, at Griffiss AFB near Utica, New York. Their actions put the aircraft out of action for the next two months at the height of the US bombing campaign in Iraq. Together with the other members of the group, he was arrested and sentenced to 13 months in the US penal system. After his return to Australia, O'Reilly took part in the 'Jabiluka Ploughshares' group action which disabled uranium mining equipment in the Northern Territory of Australia in 1998.
Veterans for Peace UK's Ben Griffin, a former British SAS soldier who had been discharged from the army after he refused to be redeployed to Iraq - citing not only the "illegal" tactics of United States troops and the policies of coalition forces but also that the invasion itself was illegal, being contrary to international law - spoke to those assembled to emphasise the importance of war resisters. He told the protesters that hearing that even small numbers of people in the outside World were supporting them by protesting gave a huge emotional lift to all those Conscientious Objecters currently in military prisons.
“If we are not actively engaged in war resistance then we should be offering our support to those that are". said Griffin. "If it is true that Bradley Manning leaked The Afghan War Logs, The Iraq War Logs and the Collateral Murder video then the last place he should be is in prison. As far as I am concerned he is a Hero. Our countries have committed terrible crimes in Iraq and Afghanistan and it is only right that we should all know exactly what has been happening.”
Michael Lyons - also from Veterans for Peace UK - spoke about how reading the Afghan War Logs had confirmed his doubts about the legality of the actions carried out by coalition forces in Afghanistan. In 2010 Lyons - a former Navy medic - applied for Conscientious Objector status after reading the “Afghan War Logs” released by Wikileaks and refused to carry out rifle training in preparation for deployment to Afghanistan. He was sentenced to 7 months in Colchester military prison and was released in November 2011.
All photos © 2012 Pete Riches
Do not reproduce, alter or reblog my images without my written permission.
Hi-Res versions of these files are available for license on application. NUJ rates apply.
Bradley Manning vigil at US Embassy - London 17.12.2011
As part of a 14-country coordinated rally in support of Bradley Manning - the young U.S. Army intelligence analyst who is accused of leaking the “Afghan War Logs” to Wikileaks - a group of supporters of Manning representing Friends of Bradley Manning UK, Veterans for Peace UK, Payday Men's Network, Queer Friends of Bradley Manning and OccupyLSX gathered outside the US Embassy in Grosvenor Square in London's Mayfair for a vigil during which many speakers voiced their extreme concern for the well-being of Manning, and to praise his brave actions.
Manning has been held in U.S. military custody for 18 months. He faces multiple charges which would lead to a lifetime of imprisonment if convicted for allegedly sharing a video of a U.S. helicopter attack that killed 11 civilians and seriously wounded two children in Baghdad, Iraq with the WikiLeaks website. The footage had been withheld by the U.S.military from those trying to discover the truth about the attacks. Manning is also accused of leaking what is now referred to as 'The Afghan Logs' - more than 91,000 documents of classified U.S. military logs spanning six years of U.S. occupation of Afghanistan. His pre-trial hearing began before a military tribunal on Friday 16th December at Fort Meade, Maryland, USA, cynically arranged to coincide with Bradley Manning's 24th birthday.
Dreadlocked supporter of Bradley Manning, Australian-born Catholic Worker, Christian anarchist and non-violent resister Ciaron O'Reilly told the crowd the latest news from Manning's hearing in Fort Mead, and went on to describe the torture and abuse Manning has endured at the hands of his completely unnaccountable gaolers, first in Quantico and now in Fort Meade. During the 1991 Gulf War, O'Reilly was a member of the 'ANZUS Ploughshares' group which attacked a B-52 Bomber which was on 20-minute scramble alert, at Griffiss AFB near Utica, New York. Their actions put the aircraft out of action for the next two months at the height of the US bombing campaign in Iraq. Together with the other members of the group, he was arrested and sentenced to 13 months in the US penal system. After his return to Australia, O'Reilly took part in the 'Jabiluka Ploughshares' group action which disabled uranium mining equipment in the Northern Territory of Australia in 1998.
Veterans for Peace UK's Ben Griffin, a former British SAS soldier who had been discharged from the army after he refused to be redeployed to Iraq - citing not only the "illegal" tactics of United States troops and the policies of coalition forces but also that the invasion itself was illegal, being contrary to international law - spoke to those assembled to emphasise the importance of war resisters. He told the protesters that hearing that even small numbers of people in the outside World were supporting them by protesting gave a huge emotional lift to all those Conscientious Objecters currently in military prisons.
“If we are not actively engaged in war resistance then we should be offering our support to those that are". said Griffin. "If it is true that Bradley Manning leaked The Afghan War Logs, The Iraq War Logs and the Collateral Murder video then the last place he should be is in prison. As far as I am concerned he is a Hero. Our countries have committed terrible crimes in Iraq and Afghanistan and it is only right that we should all know exactly what has been happening.”
Michael Lyons - also from Veterans for Peace UK - spoke about how reading the Afghan War Logs had confirmed his doubts about the legality of the actions carried out by coalition forces in Afghanistan. In 2010 Lyons - a former Navy medic - applied for Conscientious Objector status after reading the “Afghan War Logs” released by Wikileaks and refused to carry out rifle training in preparation for deployment to Afghanistan. He was sentenced to 7 months in Colchester military prison and was released in November 2011.
All photos © 2012 Pete Riches
Do not reproduce, alter or reblog my images without my written permission.
Hi-Res versions of these files are available for license on application. NUJ rates apply.
Bradley Manning vigil at US Embassy - London 17.12.2011
As part of a 14-country coordinated rally in support of Bradley Manning - the young U.S. Army intelligence analyst who is accused of leaking the “Afghan War Logs” to Wikileaks - a group of supporters of Manning representing Friends of Bradley Manning UK, Veterans for Peace UK, Payday Men's Network, Queer Friends of Bradley Manning and OccupyLSX gathered outside the US Embassy in Grosvenor Square in London's Mayfair for a vigil during which many speakers voiced their extreme concern for the well-being of Manning, and to praise his brave actions.
Manning has been held in U.S. military custody for 18 months. He faces multiple charges which would lead to a lifetime of imprisonment if convicted for allegedly sharing a video of a U.S. helicopter attack that killed 11 civilians and seriously wounded two children in Baghdad, Iraq with the WikiLeaks website. The footage had been withheld by the U.S.military from those trying to discover the truth about the attacks. Manning is also accused of leaking what is now referred to as 'The Afghan Logs' - more than 91,000 documents of classified U.S. military logs spanning six years of U.S. occupation of Afghanistan. His pre-trial hearing began before a military tribunal on Friday 16th December at Fort Meade, Maryland, USA, cynically arranged to coincide with Bradley Manning's 24th birthday.
Dreadlocked supporter of Bradley Manning, Australian-born Catholic Worker, Christian anarchist and non-violent resister Ciaron O'Reilly told the crowd the latest news from Manning's hearing in Fort Mead, and went on to describe the torture and abuse Manning has endured at the hands of his completely unnaccountable gaolers, first in Quantico and now in Fort Meade. During the 1991 Gulf War, O'Reilly was a member of the 'ANZUS Ploughshares' group which attacked a B-52 Bomber which was on 20-minute scramble alert, at Griffiss AFB near Utica, New York. Their actions put the aircraft out of action for the next two months at the height of the US bombing campaign in Iraq. Together with the other members of the group, he was arrested and sentenced to 13 months in the US penal system. After his return to Australia, O'Reilly took part in the 'Jabiluka Ploughshares' group action which disabled uranium mining equipment in the Northern Territory of Australia in 1998.
Veterans for Peace UK's Ben Griffin, a former British SAS soldier who had been discharged from the army after he refused to be redeployed to Iraq - citing not only the "illegal" tactics of United States troops and the policies of coalition forces but also that the invasion itself was illegal, being contrary to international law - spoke to those assembled to emphasise the importance of war resisters. He told the protesters that hearing that even small numbers of people in the outside World were supporting them by protesting gave a huge emotional lift to all those Conscientious Objecters currently in military prisons.
“If we are not actively engaged in war resistance then we should be offering our support to those that are". said Griffin. "If it is true that Bradley Manning leaked The Afghan War Logs, The Iraq War Logs and the Collateral Murder video then the last place he should be is in prison. As far as I am concerned he is a Hero. Our countries have committed terrible crimes in Iraq and Afghanistan and it is only right that we should all know exactly what has been happening.”
Michael Lyons - also from Veterans for Peace UK - spoke about how reading the Afghan War Logs had confirmed his doubts about the legality of the actions carried out by coalition forces in Afghanistan. In 2010 Lyons - a former Navy medic - applied for Conscientious Objector status after reading the “Afghan War Logs” released by Wikileaks and refused to carry out rifle training in preparation for deployment to Afghanistan. He was sentenced to 7 months in Colchester military prison and was released in November 2011.
All photos © 2012 Pete Riches
Do not reproduce, alter or reblog my images without my written permission.
Hi-Res versions of these files are available for license on application. NUJ rates apply.
Bradley Manning vigil at US Embassy - London 17.12.2011
As part of a 14-country coordinated rally in support of Bradley Manning - the young U.S. Army intelligence analyst who is accused of leaking the “Afghan War Logs” to Wikileaks - a group of supporters of Manning representing Friends of Bradley Manning UK, Veterans for Peace UK, Payday Men's Network, Queer Friends of Bradley Manning and OccupyLSX gathered outside the US Embassy in Grosvenor Square in London's Mayfair for a vigil during which many speakers voiced their extreme concern for the well-being of Manning, and to praise his brave actions.
Manning has been held in U.S. military custody for 18 months. He faces multiple charges which would lead to a lifetime of imprisonment if convicted for allegedly sharing a video of a U.S. helicopter attack that killed 11 civilians and seriously wounded two children in Baghdad, Iraq with the WikiLeaks website. The footage had been withheld by the U.S.military from those trying to discover the truth about the attacks. Manning is also accused of leaking what is now referred to as 'The Afghan Logs' - more than 91,000 documents of classified U.S. military logs spanning six years of U.S. occupation of Afghanistan. His pre-trial hearing began before a military tribunal on Friday 16th December at Fort Meade, Maryland, USA, cynically arranged to coincide with Bradley Manning's 24th birthday.
Dreadlocked supporter of Bradley Manning, Australian-born Catholic Worker, Christian anarchist and non-violent resister Ciaron O'Reilly told the crowd the latest news from Manning's hearing in Fort Mead, and went on to describe the torture and abuse Manning has endured at the hands of his completely unnaccountable gaolers, first in Quantico and now in Fort Meade. During the 1991 Gulf War, O'Reilly was a member of the 'ANZUS Ploughshares' group which attacked a B-52 Bomber which was on 20-minute scramble alert, at Griffiss AFB near Utica, New York. Their actions put the aircraft out of action for the next two months at the height of the US bombing campaign in Iraq. Together with the other members of the group, he was arrested and sentenced to 13 months in the US penal system. After his return to Australia, O'Reilly took part in the 'Jabiluka Ploughshares' group action which disabled uranium mining equipment in the Northern Territory of Australia in 1998.
Veterans for Peace UK's Ben Griffin, a former British SAS soldier who had been discharged from the army after he refused to be redeployed to Iraq - citing not only the "illegal" tactics of United States troops and the policies of coalition forces but also that the invasion itself was illegal, being contrary to international law - spoke to those assembled to emphasise the importance of war resisters. He told the protesters that hearing that even small numbers of people in the outside World were supporting them by protesting gave a huge emotional lift to all those Conscientious Objecters currently in military prisons.
“If we are not actively engaged in war resistance then we should be offering our support to those that are". said Griffin. "If it is true that Bradley Manning leaked The Afghan War Logs, The Iraq War Logs and the Collateral Murder video then the last place he should be is in prison. As far as I am concerned he is a Hero. Our countries have committed terrible crimes in Iraq and Afghanistan and it is only right that we should all know exactly what has been happening.”
Michael Lyons - also from Veterans for Peace UK - spoke about how reading the Afghan War Logs had confirmed his doubts about the legality of the actions carried out by coalition forces in Afghanistan. In 2010 Lyons - a former Navy medic - applied for Conscientious Objector status after reading the “Afghan War Logs” released by Wikileaks and refused to carry out rifle training in preparation for deployment to Afghanistan. He was sentenced to 7 months in Colchester military prison and was released in November 2011.
All photos © 2012 Pete Riches
Do not reproduce, alter or reblog my images without my written permission.
Hi-Res versions of these files are available for license on application. NUJ rates apply.
Bradley Manning vigil at US Embassy - London 17.12.2011
As part of a 14-country coordinated rally in support of Bradley Manning - the young U.S. Army intelligence analyst who is accused of leaking the “Afghan War Logs” to Wikileaks - a group of supporters of Manning representing Friends of Bradley Manning UK, Veterans for Peace UK, Payday Men's Network, Queer Friends of Bradley Manning and OccupyLSX gathered outside the US Embassy in Grosvenor Square in London's Mayfair for a vigil during which many speakers voiced their extreme concern for the well-being of Manning, and to praise his brave actions.
Manning has been held in U.S. military custody for 18 months. He faces multiple charges which would lead to a lifetime of imprisonment if convicted for allegedly sharing a video of a U.S. helicopter attack that killed 11 civilians and seriously wounded two children in Baghdad, Iraq with the WikiLeaks website. The footage had been withheld by the U.S.military from those trying to discover the truth about the attacks. Manning is also accused of leaking what is now referred to as 'The Afghan Logs' - more than 91,000 documents of classified U.S. military logs spanning six years of U.S. occupation of Afghanistan. His pre-trial hearing began before a military tribunal on Friday 16th December at Fort Meade, Maryland, USA, cynically arranged to coincide with Bradley Manning's 24th birthday.
Dreadlocked supporter of Bradley Manning, Australian-born Catholic Worker, Christian anarchist and non-violent resister Ciaron O'Reilly told the crowd the latest news from Manning's hearing in Fort Mead, and went on to describe the torture and abuse Manning has endured at the hands of his completely unnaccountable gaolers, first in Quantico and now in Fort Meade. During the 1991 Gulf War, O'Reilly was a member of the 'ANZUS Ploughshares' group which attacked a B-52 Bomber which was on 20-minute scramble alert, at Griffiss AFB near Utica, New York. Their actions put the aircraft out of action for the next two months at the height of the US bombing campaign in Iraq. Together with the other members of the group, he was arrested and sentenced to 13 months in the US penal system. After his return to Australia, O'Reilly took part in the 'Jabiluka Ploughshares' group action which disabled uranium mining equipment in the Northern Territory of Australia in 1998.
Veterans for Peace UK's Ben Griffin, a former British SAS soldier who had been discharged from the army after he refused to be redeployed to Iraq - citing not only the "illegal" tactics of United States troops and the policies of coalition forces but also that the invasion itself was illegal, being contrary to international law - spoke to those assembled to emphasise the importance of war resisters. He told the protesters that hearing that even small numbers of people in the outside World were supporting them by protesting gave a huge emotional lift to all those Conscientious Objecters currently in military prisons.
“If we are not actively engaged in war resistance then we should be offering our support to those that are". said Griffin. "If it is true that Bradley Manning leaked The Afghan War Logs, The Iraq War Logs and the Collateral Murder video then the last place he should be is in prison. As far as I am concerned he is a Hero. Our countries have committed terrible crimes in Iraq and Afghanistan and it is only right that we should all know exactly what has been happening.”
Michael Lyons - also from Veterans for Peace UK - spoke about how reading the Afghan War Logs had confirmed his doubts about the legality of the actions carried out by coalition forces in Afghanistan. In 2010 Lyons - a former Navy medic - applied for Conscientious Objector status after reading the “Afghan War Logs” released by Wikileaks and refused to carry out rifle training in preparation for deployment to Afghanistan. He was sentenced to 7 months in Colchester military prison and was released in November 2011.
All photos © 2012 Pete Riches
Do not reproduce, alter or reblog my images without my written permission.
Hi-Res versions of these files are available for license on application. NUJ rates apply.
Bradley Manning vigil at US Embassy - London 17.12.2011
As part of a 14-country coordinated rally in support of Bradley Manning - the young U.S. Army intelligence analyst who is accused of leaking the “Afghan War Logs” to Wikileaks - a group of supporters of Manning representing Friends of Bradley Manning UK, Veterans for Peace UK, Payday Men's Network, Queer Friends of Bradley Manning and OccupyLSX gathered outside the US Embassy in Grosvenor Square in London's Mayfair for a vigil during which many speakers voiced their extreme concern for the well-being of Manning, and to praise his brave actions.
Manning has been held in U.S. military custody for 18 months. He faces multiple charges which would lead to a lifetime of imprisonment if convicted for allegedly sharing a video of a U.S. helicopter attack that killed 11 civilians and seriously wounded two children in Baghdad, Iraq with the WikiLeaks website. The footage had been withheld by the U.S.military from those trying to discover the truth about the attacks. Manning is also accused of leaking what is now referred to as 'The Afghan Logs' - more than 91,000 documents of classified U.S. military logs spanning six years of U.S. occupation of Afghanistan. His pre-trial hearing began before a military tribunal on Friday 16th December at Fort Meade, Maryland, USA, cynically arranged to coincide with Bradley Manning's 24th birthday.
Dreadlocked supporter of Bradley Manning, Australian-born Catholic Worker, Christian anarchist and non-violent resister Ciaron O'Reilly told the crowd the latest news from Manning's hearing in Fort Mead, and went on to describe the torture and abuse Manning has endured at the hands of his completely unnaccountable gaolers, first in Quantico and now in Fort Meade. During the 1991 Gulf War, O'Reilly was a member of the 'ANZUS Ploughshares' group which attacked a B-52 Bomber which was on 20-minute scramble alert, at Griffiss AFB near Utica, New York. Their actions put the aircraft out of action for the next two months at the height of the US bombing campaign in Iraq. Together with the other members of the group, he was arrested and sentenced to 13 months in the US penal system. After his return to Australia, O'Reilly took part in the 'Jabiluka Ploughshares' group action which disabled uranium mining equipment in the Northern Territory of Australia in 1998.
Veterans for Peace UK's Ben Griffin, a former British SAS soldier who had been discharged from the army after he refused to be redeployed to Iraq - citing not only the "illegal" tactics of United States troops and the policies of coalition forces but also that the invasion itself was illegal, being contrary to international law - spoke to those assembled to emphasise the importance of war resisters. He told the protesters that hearing that even small numbers of people in the outside World were supporting them by protesting gave a huge emotional lift to all those Conscientious Objecters currently in military prisons.
“If we are not actively engaged in war resistance then we should be offering our support to those that are". said Griffin. "If it is true that Bradley Manning leaked The Afghan War Logs, The Iraq War Logs and the Collateral Murder video then the last place he should be is in prison. As far as I am concerned he is a Hero. Our countries have committed terrible crimes in Iraq and Afghanistan and it is only right that we should all know exactly what has been happening.”
Michael Lyons - also from Veterans for Peace UK - spoke about how reading the Afghan War Logs had confirmed his doubts about the legality of the actions carried out by coalition forces in Afghanistan. In 2010 Lyons - a former Navy medic - applied for Conscientious Objector status after reading the “Afghan War Logs” released by Wikileaks and refused to carry out rifle training in preparation for deployment to Afghanistan. He was sentenced to 7 months in Colchester military prison and was released in November 2011.
All photos © 2012 Pete Riches
Do not reproduce, alter or reblog my images without my written permission.
Hi-Res versions of these files are available for license on application. NUJ rates apply.
Bradley Manning vigil at US Embassy - London 17.12.2011
As part of a 14-country coordinated rally in support of Bradley Manning - the young U.S. Army intelligence analyst who is accused of leaking the “Afghan War Logs” to Wikileaks - a group of supporters of Manning representing Friends of Bradley Manning UK, Veterans for Peace UK, Payday Men's Network, Queer Friends of Bradley Manning and OccupyLSX gathered outside the US Embassy in Grosvenor Square in London's Mayfair for a vigil during which many speakers voiced their extreme concern for the well-being of Manning, and to praise his brave actions.
Manning has been held in U.S. military custody for 18 months. He faces multiple charges which would lead to a lifetime of imprisonment if convicted for allegedly sharing a video of a U.S. helicopter attack that killed 11 civilians and seriously wounded two children in Baghdad, Iraq with the WikiLeaks website. The footage had been withheld by the U.S.military from those trying to discover the truth about the attacks. Manning is also accused of leaking what is now referred to as 'The Afghan Logs' - more than 91,000 documents of classified U.S. military logs spanning six years of U.S. occupation of Afghanistan. His pre-trial hearing began before a military tribunal on Friday 16th December at Fort Meade, Maryland, USA, cynically arranged to coincide with Bradley Manning's 24th birthday.
Dreadlocked supporter of Bradley Manning, Australian-born Catholic Worker, Christian anarchist and non-violent resister Ciaron O'Reilly told the crowd the latest news from Manning's hearing in Fort Mead, and went on to describe the torture and abuse Manning has endured at the hands of his completely unnaccountable gaolers, first in Quantico and now in Fort Meade. During the 1991 Gulf War, O'Reilly was a member of the 'ANZUS Ploughshares' group which attacked a B-52 Bomber which was on 20-minute scramble alert, at Griffiss AFB near Utica, New York. Their actions put the aircraft out of action for the next two months at the height of the US bombing campaign in Iraq. Together with the other members of the group, he was arrested and sentenced to 13 months in the US penal system. After his return to Australia, O'Reilly took part in the 'Jabiluka Ploughshares' group action which disabled uranium mining equipment in the Northern Territory of Australia in 1998.
Veterans for Peace UK's Ben Griffin, a former British SAS soldier who had been discharged from the army after he refused to be redeployed to Iraq - citing not only the "illegal" tactics of United States troops and the policies of coalition forces but also that the invasion itself was illegal, being contrary to international law - spoke to those assembled to emphasise the importance of war resisters. He told the protesters that hearing that even small numbers of people in the outside World were supporting them by protesting gave a huge emotional lift to all those Conscientious Objecters currently in military prisons.
“If we are not actively engaged in war resistance then we should be offering our support to those that are". said Griffin. "If it is true that Bradley Manning leaked The Afghan War Logs, The Iraq War Logs and the Collateral Murder video then the last place he should be is in prison. As far as I am concerned he is a Hero. Our countries have committed terrible crimes in Iraq and Afghanistan and it is only right that we should all know exactly what has been happening.”
Michael Lyons - also from Veterans for Peace UK - spoke about how reading the Afghan War Logs had confirmed his doubts about the legality of the actions carried out by coalition forces in Afghanistan. In 2010 Lyons - a former Navy medic - applied for Conscientious Objector status after reading the “Afghan War Logs” released by Wikileaks and refused to carry out rifle training in preparation for deployment to Afghanistan. He was sentenced to 7 months in Colchester military prison and was released in November 2011.
All photos © 2012 Pete Riches
Do not reproduce, alter or reblog my images without my written permission.
Hi-Res versions of these files are available for license on application. NUJ rates apply.
Around two hundred activists from Disabled People Against Cuts (DPAC), Disabled Activists Network (DAN), WinVisible and anti-corporate tax-avoidance campaigners UK Uncut joined forces on 28.01.2012 to carry out a demonstration and acts of civil disobedience to protest against the ongoing savage cuts being made to disability benefits by the Coalition Government led by Old Etonian, ex-Bullingdon Club member and ex-PR man, prime minister David Cameron, who has overseen a concerted public attack on the weakest, most vulnerable members of British society - the sick, the disabled and the dying - who are seeing the welfare benefits they depend on to survive slashed at the same time as they have been publicly demonised and branded work-shy scroungers by a compliant right-wing press, in order to slash the welfare budget, which is the Cameron government's only solution to the economic shockwaves caused by the banking crisis of 2008.
Congregating first in Holborn Circus by organizers, the activists (many of whom were in wheelchairs, had guide dogs, or were accompanied by their Carers and Buddies), who had earlier been instructed to arrive with a valid Oyster travel card - were entertained by a samba drum troupe. Suddenly the signal was ,given, and everyone (except the wheelchair-users, who had to find other transport because of the woefully abysmal provision for the disabled on 90% of the Victorian rail system) entered Holborn Underground Station en-masse to reappear at their top-secret destination two short stops away - the large, busy junction of Oxford Street and Regent Street, where they proceeded to spill onto the new Tokyo-style pedestrian crossing before completely blocking all traffic from the North by chaining their wheelchairs together across the road, anchored at each end to the wrought-iron railings at the entrances to the Underground station.
Police looked on, almost powerless to act without being seen to physically manhandle many severely disabled people, and it's very doubtful if they have provision to load electric wheelchairs into police carriers and hold them in custody suites without a huge public relations disaster, so instead they sensibly adopted a pastoral role, doing what they could to keep the peaceful-but-very-vocal protesters safe for the three hours their act of civil disobedience lasted, after which they all calmly dissapated, vanishing back into the underground system and home for a well-earned rest after a triumphant protest.
This is the first time that Disabled People Against Cuts (DPAC) have had any significant support on one of their direct actions, and being joined by the extremely effective corporate tax-avoidance protesters from UK Uncut was a fantastic morale boost for the battle-hardened disabled activists. For well over a year DPAC has been fighting back against David Cameron's swingeing "austerity" cuts to the welfare budget, especially to provision for the disabled, which are only hurting the most vulnerable in our society. It seems as if the message is finally getting through to other single-issue protest groups that everything is related to everything else. Taking Disability Living Allowance from half a million disabled people, making them homeless and destitue with their considerable physical and/or mental health complications may save the Department of Work and Pensions' annual budget, but the burden of caring for all these people will now fall to local councils, already chronically stretched by huge government cuts to their budgets - and it is widely understood by everyone that it is much, much cheaper to keep a disabled person living independently with State help than it is to reinstate the Victorian Institutions and Hospitals, which past campaigners fought so hard for so long to abolish because of the inherent cruelty in institutionalising the disabled who previously had independent lives and employment but can no longer get to work because the Conservative government has taken away their mobility allowances...
All photos © 2012 Pete Riches
Do not reproduce, alter or reblog my images without my written permission.
Hi-Res versions of these files are available for license on application. NUJ rates apply.
Around two hundred activists from Disabled People Against Cuts (DPAC), Disabled Activists Network (DAN), WinVisible and anti-corporate tax-avoidance campaigners UK Uncut joined forces on 28.01.2012 to carry out a demonstration and acts of civil disobedience to protest against the ongoing savage cuts being made to disability benefits by the Coalition Government led by Old Etonian, ex-Bullingdon Club member and ex-PR man, prime minister David Cameron, who has overseen a concerted public attack on the weakest, most vulnerable members of British society - the sick, the disabled and the dying - who are seeing the welfare benefits they depend on to survive slashed at the same time as they have been publicly demonised and branded work-shy scroungers by a compliant right-wing press, in order to slash the welfare budget, which is the Cameron government's only solution to the economic shockwaves caused by the banking crisis of 2008.
Congregating first in Holborn Circus by organizers, the activists (many of whom were in wheelchairs, had guide dogs, or were accompanied by their Carers and Buddies), who had earlier been instructed to arrive with a valid Oyster travel card - were entertained by a samba drum troupe. Suddenly the signal was ,given, and everyone (except the wheelchair-users, who had to find other transport because of the woefully abysmal provision for the disabled on 90% of the Victorian rail system) entered Holborn Underground Station en-masse to reappear at their top-secret destination two short stops away - the large, busy junction of Oxford Street and Regent Street, where they proceeded to spill onto the new Tokyo-style pedestrian crossing before completely blocking all traffic from the North by chaining their wheelchairs together across the road, anchored at each end to the wrought-iron railings at the entrances to the Underground station.
Police looked on, almost powerless to act without being seen to physically manhandle many severely disabled people, and it's very doubtful if they have provision to load electric wheelchairs into police carriers and hold them in custody suites without a huge public relations disaster, so instead they sensibly adopted a pastoral role, doing what they could to keep the peaceful-but-very-vocal protesters safe for the three hours their act of civil disobedience lasted, after which they all calmly dissapated, vanishing back into the underground system and home for a well-earned rest after a triumphant protest.
This is the first time that Disabled People Against Cuts (DPAC) have had any significant support on one of their direct actions, and being joined by the extremely effective corporate tax-avoidance protesters from UK Uncut was a fantastic morale boost for the battle-hardened disabled activists. For well over a year DPAC has been fighting back against David Cameron's swingeing "austerity" cuts to the welfare budget, especially to provision for the disabled, which are only hurting the most vulnerable in our society. It seems as if the message is finally getting through to other single-issue protest groups that everything is related to everything else. Taking Disability Living Allowance from half a million disabled people, making them homeless and destitue with their considerable physical and/or mental health complications may save the Department of Work and Pensions' annual budget, but the burden of caring for all these people will now fall to local councils, already chronically stretched by huge government cuts to their budgets - and it is widely understood by everyone that it is much, much cheaper to keep a disabled person living independently with State help than it is to reinstate the Victorian Institutions and Hospitals, which past campaigners fought so hard for so long to abolish because of the inherent cruelty in institutionalising the disabled who previously had independent lives and employment but can no longer get to work because the Conservative government has taken away their mobility allowances...
All photos © 2012 Pete Riches
Do not reproduce, alter or reblog my images without my written permission.
Hi-Res versions of these files are available for license on application. NUJ rates apply.
Each speaker gets a turn at the megaphone. People wave their hands for agreement, cross them for disagreement.
Bradley Manning vigil at US Embassy - London 17.12.2011
As part of a 14-country coordinated rally in support of Bradley Manning - the young U.S. Army intelligence analyst who is accused of leaking the “Afghan War Logs” to Wikileaks - a group of supporters of Manning representing Friends of Bradley Manning UK, Veterans for Peace UK, Payday Men's Network, Queer Friends of Bradley Manning and OccupyLSX gathered outside the US Embassy in Grosvenor Square in London's Mayfair for a vigil during which many speakers voiced their extreme concern for the well-being of Manning, and to praise his brave actions.
Manning has been held in U.S. military custody for 18 months. He faces multiple charges which would lead to a lifetime of imprisonment if convicted for allegedly sharing a video of a U.S. helicopter attack that killed 11 civilians and seriously wounded two children in Baghdad, Iraq with the WikiLeaks website. The footage had been withheld by the U.S.military from those trying to discover the truth about the attacks. Manning is also accused of leaking what is now referred to as 'The Afghan Logs' - more than 91,000 documents of classified U.S. military logs spanning six years of U.S. occupation of Afghanistan. His pre-trial hearing began before a military tribunal on Friday 16th December at Fort Meade, Maryland, USA, cynically arranged to coincide with Bradley Manning's 24th birthday.
Dreadlocked supporter of Bradley Manning, Australian-born Catholic Worker, Christian anarchist and non-violent resister Ciaron O'Reilly told the crowd the latest news from Manning's hearing in Fort Mead, and went on to describe the torture and abuse Manning has endured at the hands of his completely unnaccountable gaolers, first in Quantico and now in Fort Meade. During the 1991 Gulf War, O'Reilly was a member of the 'ANZUS Ploughshares' group which attacked a B-52 Bomber which was on 20-minute scramble alert, at Griffiss AFB near Utica, New York. Their actions put the aircraft out of action for the next two months at the height of the US bombing campaign in Iraq. Together with the other members of the group, he was arrested and sentenced to 13 months in the US penal system. After his return to Australia, O'Reilly took part in the 'Jabiluka Ploughshares' group action which disabled uranium mining equipment in the Northern Territory of Australia in 1998.
Veterans for Peace UK's Ben Griffin, a former British SAS soldier who had been discharged from the army after he refused to be redeployed to Iraq - citing not only the "illegal" tactics of United States troops and the policies of coalition forces but also that the invasion itself was illegal, being contrary to international law - spoke to those assembled to emphasise the importance of war resisters. He told the protesters that hearing that even small numbers of people in the outside World were supporting them by protesting gave a huge emotional lift to all those Conscientious Objecters currently in military prisons.
“If we are not actively engaged in war resistance then we should be offering our support to those that are". said Griffin. "If it is true that Bradley Manning leaked The Afghan War Logs, The Iraq War Logs and the Collateral Murder video then the last place he should be is in prison. As far as I am concerned he is a Hero. Our countries have committed terrible crimes in Iraq and Afghanistan and it is only right that we should all know exactly what has been happening.”
Michael Lyons - also from Veterans for Peace UK - spoke about how reading the Afghan War Logs had confirmed his doubts about the legality of the actions carried out by coalition forces in Afghanistan. In 2010 Lyons - a former Navy medic - applied for Conscientious Objector status after reading the “Afghan War Logs” released by Wikileaks and refused to carry out rifle training in preparation for deployment to Afghanistan. He was sentenced to 7 months in Colchester military prison and was released in November 2011.
All photos © 2012 Pete Riches
Do not reproduce, alter or reblog my images without my written permission.
Hi-Res versions of these files are available for license on application. NUJ rates apply.
Bradley Manning vigil at US Embassy - London 17.12.2011
As part of a 14-country coordinated rally in support of Bradley Manning - the young U.S. Army intelligence analyst who is accused of leaking the “Afghan War Logs” to Wikileaks - a group of supporters of Manning representing Friends of Bradley Manning UK, Veterans for Peace UK, Payday Men's Network, Queer Friends of Bradley Manning and OccupyLSX gathered outside the US Embassy in Grosvenor Square in London's Mayfair for a vigil during which many speakers voiced their extreme concern for the well-being of Manning, and to praise his brave actions.
Manning has been held in U.S. military custody for 18 months. He faces multiple charges which would lead to a lifetime of imprisonment if convicted for allegedly sharing a video of a U.S. helicopter attack that killed 11 civilians and seriously wounded two children in Baghdad, Iraq with the WikiLeaks website. The footage had been withheld by the U.S.military from those trying to discover the truth about the attacks. Manning is also accused of leaking what is now referred to as 'The Afghan Logs' - more than 91,000 documents of classified U.S. military logs spanning six years of U.S. occupation of Afghanistan. His pre-trial hearing began before a military tribunal on Friday 16th December at Fort Meade, Maryland, USA, cynically arranged to coincide with Bradley Manning's 24th birthday.
Dreadlocked supporter of Bradley Manning, Australian-born Catholic Worker, Christian anarchist and non-violent resister Ciaron O'Reilly told the crowd the latest news from Manning's hearing in Fort Mead, and went on to describe the torture and abuse Manning has endured at the hands of his completely unnaccountable gaolers, first in Quantico and now in Fort Meade. During the 1991 Gulf War, O'Reilly was a member of the 'ANZUS Ploughshares' group which attacked a B-52 Bomber which was on 20-minute scramble alert, at Griffiss AFB near Utica, New York. Their actions put the aircraft out of action for the next two months at the height of the US bombing campaign in Iraq. Together with the other members of the group, he was arrested and sentenced to 13 months in the US penal system. After his return to Australia, O'Reilly took part in the 'Jabiluka Ploughshares' group action which disabled uranium mining equipment in the Northern Territory of Australia in 1998.
Veterans for Peace UK's Ben Griffin, a former British SAS soldier who had been discharged from the army after he refused to be redeployed to Iraq - citing not only the "illegal" tactics of United States troops and the policies of coalition forces but also that the invasion itself was illegal, being contrary to international law - spoke to those assembled to emphasise the importance of war resisters. He told the protesters that hearing that even small numbers of people in the outside World were supporting them by protesting gave a huge emotional lift to all those Conscientious Objecters currently in military prisons.
“If we are not actively engaged in war resistance then we should be offering our support to those that are". said Griffin. "If it is true that Bradley Manning leaked The Afghan War Logs, The Iraq War Logs and the Collateral Murder video then the last place he should be is in prison. As far as I am concerned he is a Hero. Our countries have committed terrible crimes in Iraq and Afghanistan and it is only right that we should all know exactly what has been happening.”
Michael Lyons - also from Veterans for Peace UK - spoke about how reading the Afghan War Logs had confirmed his doubts about the legality of the actions carried out by coalition forces in Afghanistan. In 2010 Lyons - a former Navy medic - applied for Conscientious Objector status after reading the “Afghan War Logs” released by Wikileaks and refused to carry out rifle training in preparation for deployment to Afghanistan. He was sentenced to 7 months in Colchester military prison and was released in November 2011.
All photos © 2012 Pete Riches
Do not reproduce, alter or reblog my images without my written permission.
Hi-Res versions of these files are available for license on application. NUJ rates apply.
Bradley Manning vigil at US Embassy - London 17.12.2011
As part of a 14-country coordinated rally in support of Bradley Manning - the young U.S. Army intelligence analyst who is accused of leaking the “Afghan War Logs” to Wikileaks - a group of supporters of Manning representing Friends of Bradley Manning UK, Veterans for Peace UK, Payday Men's Network, Queer Friends of Bradley Manning and OccupyLSX gathered outside the US Embassy in Grosvenor Square in London's Mayfair for a vigil during which many speakers voiced their extreme concern for the well-being of Manning, and to praise his brave actions.
Manning has been held in U.S. military custody for 18 months. He faces multiple charges which would lead to a lifetime of imprisonment if convicted for allegedly sharing a video of a U.S. helicopter attack that killed 11 civilians and seriously wounded two children in Baghdad, Iraq with the WikiLeaks website. The footage had been withheld by the U.S.military from those trying to discover the truth about the attacks. Manning is also accused of leaking what is now referred to as 'The Afghan Logs' - more than 91,000 documents of classified U.S. military logs spanning six years of U.S. occupation of Afghanistan. His pre-trial hearing began before a military tribunal on Friday 16th December at Fort Meade, Maryland, USA, cynically arranged to coincide with Bradley Manning's 24th birthday.
Dreadlocked supporter of Bradley Manning, Australian-born Catholic Worker, Christian anarchist and non-violent resister Ciaron O'Reilly told the crowd the latest news from Manning's hearing in Fort Mead, and went on to describe the torture and abuse Manning has endured at the hands of his completely unnaccountable gaolers, first in Quantico and now in Fort Meade. During the 1991 Gulf War, O'Reilly was a member of the 'ANZUS Ploughshares' group which attacked a B-52 Bomber which was on 20-minute scramble alert, at Griffiss AFB near Utica, New York. Their actions put the aircraft out of action for the next two months at the height of the US bombing campaign in Iraq. Together with the other members of the group, he was arrested and sentenced to 13 months in the US penal system. After his return to Australia, O'Reilly took part in the 'Jabiluka Ploughshares' group action which disabled uranium mining equipment in the Northern Territory of Australia in 1998.
Veterans for Peace UK's Ben Griffin, a former British SAS soldier who had been discharged from the army after he refused to be redeployed to Iraq - citing not only the "illegal" tactics of United States troops and the policies of coalition forces but also that the invasion itself was illegal, being contrary to international law - spoke to those assembled to emphasise the importance of war resisters. He told the protesters that hearing that even small numbers of people in the outside World were supporting them by protesting gave a huge emotional lift to all those Conscientious Objecters currently in military prisons.
“If we are not actively engaged in war resistance then we should be offering our support to those that are". said Griffin. "If it is true that Bradley Manning leaked The Afghan War Logs, The Iraq War Logs and the Collateral Murder video then the last place he should be is in prison. As far as I am concerned he is a Hero. Our countries have committed terrible crimes in Iraq and Afghanistan and it is only right that we should all know exactly what has been happening.”
Michael Lyons - also from Veterans for Peace UK - spoke about how reading the Afghan War Logs had confirmed his doubts about the legality of the actions carried out by coalition forces in Afghanistan. In 2010 Lyons - a former Navy medic - applied for Conscientious Objector status after reading the “Afghan War Logs” released by Wikileaks and refused to carry out rifle training in preparation for deployment to Afghanistan. He was sentenced to 7 months in Colchester military prison and was released in November 2011.
All photos © 2012 Pete Riches
Do not reproduce, alter or reblog my images without my written permission.
Hi-Res versions of these files are available for license on application. NUJ rates apply.
Parliament Square's iconic blue "Peace Box" removed by police - London, UK 03.05.2012
Following a recent High Court ruling that the injunction preventing the removal of the final protester's tent on Parliament Square could be lifted immediately, police and officials from Westminster council arrived with a lorry to clear away the large blue wooden "Peace Box" built by peace campaigner Maria Gallastegui - founder of peacestrike.org - who has been living in a tent on the pavement next to the box which was also used for storing protest materials and making cups of tea, and has held a continual protest on Parliament Square since 2006, much to the dismay and fury of a huge number of supposedly peace-loving MPs and Westminster Council.
Resignedly co-operating fully with the police, a philosophical Ms Gallastegui said that "The box is not the issue. My tent is not the issue. The issue is the ability for people to maintain sustained political protest in Parliament Square, and the critical need to protest against illegal wars waged against foreign countries to serve the predatory needs of the oil companies. Obviously I am very sad that the box has to go, but my protest does not stop because of it. It will continue in a different form." She also explained that she is going directly to the Court of Appeal to apply for another injunction against Westminster Council, and if that is not successful she will appeal to the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg.
High Court judge Sir John Thomas, whilst ruling that Westminster Council's by-laws prohibiting protesters from setting up tents or other "sleeping equipment" were legal, added that if Ms. Gallastegui's appeal is successful she would be allowed to place her tent back on the square, however; Justice Thomas refused her grounds for appeal in his court, paving the way for the eviction. Ms. Gallastegui has to take her appeal to the Appeals Court, and if she is unsuccessful she intends to take the matter to the European Courts.
In addition, the court order required that the Peace Box be removed "fully intact", so great care had to be taken by the police in removing it, which caused some wry smiles from the police officer who arrived with a sledge-hammer and a large fire-fighter's crowbar!
An earlier version of the iconic box - christened 'The Peace Plinth' and decorated with collaboration from 'Art Below' with three large white relief panels of an American soldier in battle uniform overlaid with blood-spattered lines from a latin poem by the Roman poet Horace "Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori" which translates as "It is sweet and fitting to die for one's country" (also quoted in Wilfred Owen's most famous World War I anti-war poem 'Dulce et Decorum Est') is currently on display in Los Angeles as part of 'The Brit Week T4C (Thanks for Caring)', and the current Parliament Square box is to be auctioned to raise money for an orphanage in Iraq for children orphaned by Western military aggression in the country.
Confusion ensued soon after the arrival of a panel truck when the attending Westminster Council officials and police realised that the vehicle was far too small to contain the box itself, so everyone had to wait until a vehicle-clampers' flatbed lorry with a car hoist was commissioned.
Half way through the eviction there was an astonishing verbal attack on Ms. Gallastegui by activists from the late Brian Haw's protest - sited further along the pavement and still fighting eviction - who accused her of some kind of treachery and insincerity because she wasn't verbally or physically fighting the police. Claiming some kind of ethical and moral superiority as the longest-established protest group on Parliament Square (having been there since 2001) and clutching several pro-Palestinian placards, the Haw camp activists, instead of showing as much as a single shred of support or solidarity with their fellow-protester, continued their criticism of Ms. Gallastegui and also accused her of somehow being a police stooge and collaborator before being moved on by a chief inspector.
Ten minutes later, as the blue box was being moved out onto the pavement prior to being lifted onto the back of a flat-bed lorry, one of the Haw camp activists - notorious for his aggression and relentless paranoia towards all journalists, photojournalists and, in fact, any other protesters and activists who have had any presence on Parliament square which they aggressively consider to be their turf - reappeared with a small sign saying "Police camp" and, suddenly cured of his pathological dislike of being photographed by anyone other than passing tourists or personal friends, overtly tried to insert himself into photos of the eviction process being taken by the assembled photojournalists to reinforce his accusation of Ms. Gallastegui and her supporters of being police agents.
Media buyers should view this story on Demotix or email me directly.
Standard NUJ rates apply.
All photos © 2012 Pete Riches
Do not reproduce, alter or reblog my images without my permission.
Hi-Res, un-watermarked versions of these files are available on application
Bradley Manning vigil at US Embassy - London 17.12.2011
As part of a 14-country coordinated rally in support of Bradley Manning - the young U.S. Army intelligence analyst who is accused of leaking the “Afghan War Logs” to Wikileaks - a group of supporters of Manning representing Friends of Bradley Manning UK, Veterans for Peace UK, Payday Men's Network, Queer Friends of Bradley Manning and OccupyLSX gathered outside the US Embassy in Grosvenor Square in London's Mayfair for a vigil during which many speakers voiced their extreme concern for the well-being of Manning, and to praise his brave actions.
Manning has been held in U.S. military custody for 18 months. He faces multiple charges which would lead to a lifetime of imprisonment if convicted for allegedly sharing a video of a U.S. helicopter attack that killed 11 civilians and seriously wounded two children in Baghdad, Iraq with the WikiLeaks website. The footage had been withheld by the U.S.military from those trying to discover the truth about the attacks. Manning is also accused of leaking what is now referred to as 'The Afghan Logs' - more than 91,000 documents of classified U.S. military logs spanning six years of U.S. occupation of Afghanistan. His pre-trial hearing began before a military tribunal on Friday 16th December at Fort Meade, Maryland, USA, cynically arranged to coincide with Bradley Manning's 24th birthday.
Dreadlocked supporter of Bradley Manning, Australian-born Catholic Worker, Christian anarchist and non-violent resister Ciaron O'Reilly told the crowd the latest news from Manning's hearing in Fort Mead, and went on to describe the torture and abuse Manning has endured at the hands of his completely unnaccountable gaolers, first in Quantico and now in Fort Meade. During the 1991 Gulf War, O'Reilly was a member of the 'ANZUS Ploughshares' group which attacked a B-52 Bomber which was on 20-minute scramble alert, at Griffiss AFB near Utica, New York. Their actions put the aircraft out of action for the next two months at the height of the US bombing campaign in Iraq. Together with the other members of the group, he was arrested and sentenced to 13 months in the US penal system. After his return to Australia, O'Reilly took part in the 'Jabiluka Ploughshares' group action which disabled uranium mining equipment in the Northern Territory of Australia in 1998.
Veterans for Peace UK's Ben Griffin, a former British SAS soldier who had been discharged from the army after he refused to be redeployed to Iraq - citing not only the "illegal" tactics of United States troops and the policies of coalition forces but also that the invasion itself was illegal, being contrary to international law - spoke to those assembled to emphasise the importance of war resisters. He told the protesters that hearing that even small numbers of people in the outside World were supporting them by protesting gave a huge emotional lift to all those Conscientious Objecters currently in military prisons.
“If we are not actively engaged in war resistance then we should be offering our support to those that are". said Griffin. "If it is true that Bradley Manning leaked The Afghan War Logs, The Iraq War Logs and the Collateral Murder video then the last place he should be is in prison. As far as I am concerned he is a Hero. Our countries have committed terrible crimes in Iraq and Afghanistan and it is only right that we should all know exactly what has been happening.”
Michael Lyons - also from Veterans for Peace UK - spoke about how reading the Afghan War Logs had confirmed his doubts about the legality of the actions carried out by coalition forces in Afghanistan. In 2010 Lyons - a former Navy medic - applied for Conscientious Objector status after reading the “Afghan War Logs” released by Wikileaks and refused to carry out rifle training in preparation for deployment to Afghanistan. He was sentenced to 7 months in Colchester military prison and was released in November 2011.
All photos © 2012 Pete Riches
Do not reproduce, alter or reblog my images without my written permission.
Hi-Res versions of these files are available for license on application. NUJ rates apply.
Bradley Manning vigil at US Embassy - London 17.12.2011
As part of a 14-country coordinated rally in support of Bradley Manning - the young U.S. Army intelligence analyst who is accused of leaking the “Afghan War Logs” to Wikileaks - a group of supporters of Manning representing Friends of Bradley Manning UK, Veterans for Peace UK, Payday Men's Network, Queer Friends of Bradley Manning and OccupyLSX gathered outside the US Embassy in Grosvenor Square in London's Mayfair for a vigil during which many speakers voiced their extreme concern for the well-being of Manning, and to praise his brave actions.
Manning has been held in U.S. military custody for 18 months. He faces multiple charges which would lead to a lifetime of imprisonment if convicted for allegedly sharing a video of a U.S. helicopter attack that killed 11 civilians and seriously wounded two children in Baghdad, Iraq with the WikiLeaks website. The footage had been withheld by the U.S.military from those trying to discover the truth about the attacks. Manning is also accused of leaking what is now referred to as 'The Afghan Logs' - more than 91,000 documents of classified U.S. military logs spanning six years of U.S. occupation of Afghanistan. His pre-trial hearing began before a military tribunal on Friday 16th December at Fort Meade, Maryland, USA, cynically arranged to coincide with Bradley Manning's 24th birthday.
Dreadlocked supporter of Bradley Manning, Australian-born Catholic Worker, Christian anarchist and non-violent resister Ciaron O'Reilly told the crowd the latest news from Manning's hearing in Fort Mead, and went on to describe the torture and abuse Manning has endured at the hands of his completely unnaccountable gaolers, first in Quantico and now in Fort Meade. During the 1991 Gulf War, O'Reilly was a member of the 'ANZUS Ploughshares' group which attacked a B-52 Bomber which was on 20-minute scramble alert, at Griffiss AFB near Utica, New York. Their actions put the aircraft out of action for the next two months at the height of the US bombing campaign in Iraq. Together with the other members of the group, he was arrested and sentenced to 13 months in the US penal system. After his return to Australia, O'Reilly took part in the 'Jabiluka Ploughshares' group action which disabled uranium mining equipment in the Northern Territory of Australia in 1998.
Veterans for Peace UK's Ben Griffin, a former British SAS soldier who had been discharged from the army after he refused to be redeployed to Iraq - citing not only the "illegal" tactics of United States troops and the policies of coalition forces but also that the invasion itself was illegal, being contrary to international law - spoke to those assembled to emphasise the importance of war resisters. He told the protesters that hearing that even small numbers of people in the outside World were supporting them by protesting gave a huge emotional lift to all those Conscientious Objecters currently in military prisons.
“If we are not actively engaged in war resistance then we should be offering our support to those that are". said Griffin. "If it is true that Bradley Manning leaked The Afghan War Logs, The Iraq War Logs and the Collateral Murder video then the last place he should be is in prison. As far as I am concerned he is a Hero. Our countries have committed terrible crimes in Iraq and Afghanistan and it is only right that we should all know exactly what has been happening.”
Michael Lyons - also from Veterans for Peace UK - spoke about how reading the Afghan War Logs had confirmed his doubts about the legality of the actions carried out by coalition forces in Afghanistan. In 2010 Lyons - a former Navy medic - applied for Conscientious Objector status after reading the “Afghan War Logs” released by Wikileaks and refused to carry out rifle training in preparation for deployment to Afghanistan. He was sentenced to 7 months in Colchester military prison and was released in November 2011.
All photos © 2012 Pete Riches
Do not reproduce, alter or reblog my images without my written permission.
Hi-Res versions of these files are available for license on application. NUJ rates apply.
Bradley Manning vigil at US Embassy - London 17.12.2011
As part of a 14-country coordinated rally in support of Bradley Manning - the young U.S. Army intelligence analyst who is accused of leaking the “Afghan War Logs” to Wikileaks - a group of supporters of Manning representing Friends of Bradley Manning UK, Veterans for Peace UK, Payday Men's Network, Queer Friends of Bradley Manning and OccupyLSX gathered outside the US Embassy in Grosvenor Square in London's Mayfair for a vigil during which many speakers voiced their extreme concern for the well-being of Manning, and to praise his brave actions.
Manning has been held in U.S. military custody for 18 months. He faces multiple charges which would lead to a lifetime of imprisonment if convicted for allegedly sharing a video of a U.S. helicopter attack that killed 11 civilians and seriously wounded two children in Baghdad, Iraq with the WikiLeaks website. The footage had been withheld by the U.S.military from those trying to discover the truth about the attacks. Manning is also accused of leaking what is now referred to as 'The Afghan Logs' - more than 91,000 documents of classified U.S. military logs spanning six years of U.S. occupation of Afghanistan. His pre-trial hearing began before a military tribunal on Friday 16th December at Fort Meade, Maryland, USA, cynically arranged to coincide with Bradley Manning's 24th birthday.
Dreadlocked supporter of Bradley Manning, Australian-born Catholic Worker, Christian anarchist and non-violent resister Ciaron O'Reilly told the crowd the latest news from Manning's hearing in Fort Mead, and went on to describe the torture and abuse Manning has endured at the hands of his completely unnaccountable gaolers, first in Quantico and now in Fort Meade. During the 1991 Gulf War, O'Reilly was a member of the 'ANZUS Ploughshares' group which attacked a B-52 Bomber which was on 20-minute scramble alert, at Griffiss AFB near Utica, New York. Their actions put the aircraft out of action for the next two months at the height of the US bombing campaign in Iraq. Together with the other members of the group, he was arrested and sentenced to 13 months in the US penal system. After his return to Australia, O'Reilly took part in the 'Jabiluka Ploughshares' group action which disabled uranium mining equipment in the Northern Territory of Australia in 1998.
Veterans for Peace UK's Ben Griffin, a former British SAS soldier who had been discharged from the army after he refused to be redeployed to Iraq - citing not only the "illegal" tactics of United States troops and the policies of coalition forces but also that the invasion itself was illegal, being contrary to international law - spoke to those assembled to emphasise the importance of war resisters. He told the protesters that hearing that even small numbers of people in the outside World were supporting them by protesting gave a huge emotional lift to all those Conscientious Objecters currently in military prisons.
“If we are not actively engaged in war resistance then we should be offering our support to those that are". said Griffin. "If it is true that Bradley Manning leaked The Afghan War Logs, The Iraq War Logs and the Collateral Murder video then the last place he should be is in prison. As far as I am concerned he is a Hero. Our countries have committed terrible crimes in Iraq and Afghanistan and it is only right that we should all know exactly what has been happening.”
Michael Lyons - also from Veterans for Peace UK - spoke about how reading the Afghan War Logs had confirmed his doubts about the legality of the actions carried out by coalition forces in Afghanistan. In 2010 Lyons - a former Navy medic - applied for Conscientious Objector status after reading the “Afghan War Logs” released by Wikileaks and refused to carry out rifle training in preparation for deployment to Afghanistan. He was sentenced to 7 months in Colchester military prison and was released in November 2011.
All photos © 2012 Pete Riches
Do not reproduce, alter or reblog my images without my written permission.
Hi-Res versions of these files are available for license on application. NUJ rates apply.
Bradley Manning vigil at US Embassy - London 17.12.2011
As part of a 14-country coordinated rally in support of Bradley Manning - the young U.S. Army intelligence analyst who is accused of leaking the “Afghan War Logs” to Wikileaks - a group of supporters of Manning representing Friends of Bradley Manning UK, Veterans for Peace UK, Payday Men's Network, Queer Friends of Bradley Manning and OccupyLSX gathered outside the US Embassy in Grosvenor Square in London's Mayfair for a vigil during which many speakers voiced their extreme concern for the well-being of Manning, and to praise his brave actions.
Manning has been held in U.S. military custody for 18 months. He faces multiple charges which would lead to a lifetime of imprisonment if convicted for allegedly sharing a video of a U.S. helicopter attack that killed 11 civilians and seriously wounded two children in Baghdad, Iraq with the WikiLeaks website. The footage had been withheld by the U.S.military from those trying to discover the truth about the attacks. Manning is also accused of leaking what is now referred to as 'The Afghan Logs' - more than 91,000 documents of classified U.S. military logs spanning six years of U.S. occupation of Afghanistan. His pre-trial hearing began before a military tribunal on Friday 16th December at Fort Meade, Maryland, USA, cynically arranged to coincide with Bradley Manning's 24th birthday.
Dreadlocked supporter of Bradley Manning, Australian-born Catholic Worker, Christian anarchist and non-violent resister Ciaron O'Reilly told the crowd the latest news from Manning's hearing in Fort Mead, and went on to describe the torture and abuse Manning has endured at the hands of his completely unnaccountable gaolers, first in Quantico and now in Fort Meade. During the 1991 Gulf War, O'Reilly was a member of the 'ANZUS Ploughshares' group which attacked a B-52 Bomber which was on 20-minute scramble alert, at Griffiss AFB near Utica, New York. Their actions put the aircraft out of action for the next two months at the height of the US bombing campaign in Iraq. Together with the other members of the group, he was arrested and sentenced to 13 months in the US penal system. After his return to Australia, O'Reilly took part in the 'Jabiluka Ploughshares' group action which disabled uranium mining equipment in the Northern Territory of Australia in 1998.
Veterans for Peace UK's Ben Griffin, a former British SAS soldier who had been discharged from the army after he refused to be redeployed to Iraq - citing not only the "illegal" tactics of United States troops and the policies of coalition forces but also that the invasion itself was illegal, being contrary to international law - spoke to those assembled to emphasise the importance of war resisters. He told the protesters that hearing that even small numbers of people in the outside World were supporting them by protesting gave a huge emotional lift to all those Conscientious Objecters currently in military prisons.
“If we are not actively engaged in war resistance then we should be offering our support to those that are". said Griffin. "If it is true that Bradley Manning leaked The Afghan War Logs, The Iraq War Logs and the Collateral Murder video then the last place he should be is in prison. As far as I am concerned he is a Hero. Our countries have committed terrible crimes in Iraq and Afghanistan and it is only right that we should all know exactly what has been happening.”
Michael Lyons - also from Veterans for Peace UK - spoke about how reading the Afghan War Logs had confirmed his doubts about the legality of the actions carried out by coalition forces in Afghanistan. In 2010 Lyons - a former Navy medic - applied for Conscientious Objector status after reading the “Afghan War Logs” released by Wikileaks and refused to carry out rifle training in preparation for deployment to Afghanistan. He was sentenced to 7 months in Colchester military prison and was released in November 2011.
All photos © 2012 Pete Riches
Do not reproduce, alter or reblog my images without my written permission.
Hi-Res versions of these files are available for license on application. NUJ rates apply.
Around two hundred activists from Disabled People Against Cuts (DPAC), Disabled Activists Network (DAN), WinVisible and anti-corporate tax-avoidance campaigners UK Uncut joined forces on 28.01.2012 to carry out a demonstration and acts of civil disobedience to protest against the ongoing savage cuts being made to disability benefits by the Coalition Government led by Old Etonian, ex-Bullingdon Club member and ex-PR man, prime minister David Cameron, who has overseen a concerted public attack on the weakest, most vulnerable members of British society - the sick, the disabled and the dying - who are seeing the welfare benefits they depend on to survive slashed at the same time as they have been publicly demonised and branded work-shy scroungers by a compliant right-wing press, in order to slash the welfare budget, which is the Cameron government's only solution to the economic shockwaves caused by the banking crisis of 2008.
Congregating first in Holborn Circus by organizers, the activists (many of whom were in wheelchairs, had guide dogs, or were accompanied by their Carers and Buddies), who had earlier been instructed to arrive with a valid Oyster travel card - were entertained by a samba drum troupe. Suddenly the signal was ,given, and everyone (except the wheelchair-users, who had to find other transport because of the woefully abysmal provision for the disabled on 90% of the Victorian rail system) entered Holborn Underground Station en-masse to reappear at their top-secret destination two short stops away - the large, busy junction of Oxford Street and Regent Street, where they proceeded to spill onto the new Tokyo-style pedestrian crossing before completely blocking all traffic from the North by chaining their wheelchairs together across the road, anchored at each end to the wrought-iron railings at the entrances to the Underground station.
Police looked on, almost powerless to act without being seen to physically manhandle many severely disabled people, and it's very doubtful if they have provision to load electric wheelchairs into police carriers and hold them in custody suites without a huge public relations disaster, so instead they sensibly adopted a pastoral role, doing what they could to keep the peaceful-but-very-vocal protesters safe for the three hours their act of civil disobedience lasted, after which they all calmly dissapated, vanishing back into the underground system and home for a well-earned rest after a triumphant protest.
This is the first time that Disabled People Against Cuts (DPAC) have had any significant support on one of their direct actions, and being joined by the extremely effective corporate tax-avoidance protesters from UK Uncut was a fantastic morale boost for the battle-hardened disabled activists. For well over a year DPAC has been fighting back against David Cameron's swingeing "austerity" cuts to the welfare budget, especially to provision for the disabled, which are only hurting the most vulnerable in our society. It seems as if the message is finally getting through to other single-issue protest groups that everything is related to everything else. Taking Disability Living Allowance from half a million disabled people, making them homeless and destitue with their considerable physical and/or mental health complications may save the Department of Work and Pensions' annual budget, but the burden of caring for all these people will now fall to local councils, already chronically stretched by huge government cuts to their budgets - and it is widely understood by everyone that it is much, much cheaper to keep a disabled person living independently with State help than it is to reinstate the Victorian Institutions and Hospitals, which past campaigners fought so hard for so long to abolish because of the inherent cruelty in institutionalising the disabled who previously had independent lives and employment but can no longer get to work because the Conservative government has taken away their mobility allowances...
All photos © 2012 Pete Riches
Do not reproduce, alter or reblog my images without my written permission.
Hi-Res versions of these files are available for license on application. NUJ rates apply.
#OccupyLSX protesters gather at St. Paul's Cathedral - Day One, 15.10.2011
As part of the newly-emerging global "Occupy" movement which has seen a continuous occupation of Liberty Park near Wall Street in New York, and which today saw protests in approximately 950 cities worldwide against the corruption of both bankers and governments, around 4-5,000 activists - having been blocked by police from their original objective, Paternoster Square which leads to the London Stock Exchange - converged on the front steps of St. Paul's Cathedral in the City of London to begin an occupation which. it is hoped, will oblige the financiers and bankers to realise that there are real people being grievously punished for the unpunished crimes of the banking industry which have resulted in crashing world economies and swingeing 'austerity measures' which are only paid for by the poor and middle classes. In the meanwhile the entire country has been treated to the disgraceful sight of the very people who caused this unmitigated shitstorm of greed, dishonesty and arrogance having the audacity to reward themselves with millions of pounds in bonuses, despite almost bringing the world economy to its knees.
Throughout the day the completely peaceful protesters discussed their grievances and through a series of open Spanish-style 'congresses' or 'people's assemblies' formulated a series of propositions which form the basis of the mass protest.
During the afternoon the crowd was joined by Wikileaks founder Julian Assange who arrived wearing the obligatory Guy Fawkes mask made famous in the cult film "V for Vendetta", which is worn by members of hacktivist group Anonymous. Assange, wearing an electronic tag on his leg imposed by the British court as he is under house arrest awaiting deportation to Sweden - was accompanied by two police detectives, one of whom frequently made a point of holding Assange's shoulder, as if they thought for one second that one of the most identifiable faces in the world right now would ever be able to make a run for it, surrounded completely by a cordon of upwards of 3-400 police.
The only mindless, vindictive violence came from some members of the Territorial Support Group who were militaristic in their brutality towards completely passive citizens when they decided to rush the steps of the cathedral once darkness fell, during which assault they stamped on people's heads and bodies, punched and kicked several people and were seen to rip the hijab off one girl's head. All of this was to prove or gain nothing whatsoever strategically except the ability of the police to be - in my opinion as I watched it from very close quarters - criminally, dangerously violent to passive, peaceful protesters who no longer, it seems, are protected from violence by the agents of the State. When the police commit violence everyone - especially the police - knows it is very difficult to go after them to demand legal justice.
Several hours later the police abandoned the steps at the request of Cathedral officials, leaving everyone to wonder what was the primary motive of the senior officer who gave the order to lead this attack on private land when no crime had been committed. This was Abuse of Process in many people's opinion.
To follow the progress of #OccupyLSX and #OccupyLondon visit their website here, and follow them on Twitter HERE and HERE.
To follow the progress of the second protest camp set up in Finsbury Square on 22.10.2011 (photos soon) visit BeyondClicktivism and follow them on Twitter
All photos © 2011 Pete Riches
Do not reproduce, alter or reblog my images without my permission.
Hi-Res versions of these files are available on application
Bradley Manning vigil at US Embassy - London 17.12.2011
As part of a 14-country coordinated rally in support of Bradley Manning - the young U.S. Army intelligence analyst who is accused of leaking the “Afghan War Logs” to Wikileaks - a group of supporters of Manning representing Friends of Bradley Manning UK, Veterans for Peace UK, Payday Men's Network, Queer Friends of Bradley Manning and OccupyLSX gathered outside the US Embassy in Grosvenor Square in London's Mayfair for a vigil during which many speakers voiced their extreme concern for the well-being of Manning, and to praise his brave actions.
Manning has been held in U.S. military custody for 18 months. He faces multiple charges which would lead to a lifetime of imprisonment if convicted for allegedly sharing a video of a U.S. helicopter attack that killed 11 civilians and seriously wounded two children in Baghdad, Iraq with the WikiLeaks website. The footage had been withheld by the U.S.military from those trying to discover the truth about the attacks. Manning is also accused of leaking what is now referred to as 'The Afghan Logs' - more than 91,000 documents of classified U.S. military logs spanning six years of U.S. occupation of Afghanistan. His pre-trial hearing began before a military tribunal on Friday 16th December at Fort Meade, Maryland, USA, cynically arranged to coincide with Bradley Manning's 24th birthday.
Dreadlocked supporter of Bradley Manning, Australian-born Catholic Worker, Christian anarchist and non-violent resister Ciaron O'Reilly told the crowd the latest news from Manning's hearing in Fort Mead, and went on to describe the torture and abuse Manning has endured at the hands of his completely unnaccountable gaolers, first in Quantico and now in Fort Meade. During the 1991 Gulf War, O'Reilly was a member of the 'ANZUS Ploughshares' group which attacked a B-52 Bomber which was on 20-minute scramble alert, at Griffiss AFB near Utica, New York. Their actions put the aircraft out of action for the next two months at the height of the US bombing campaign in Iraq. Together with the other members of the group, he was arrested and sentenced to 13 months in the US penal system. After his return to Australia, O'Reilly took part in the 'Jabiluka Ploughshares' group action which disabled uranium mining equipment in the Northern Territory of Australia in 1998.
Veterans for Peace UK's Ben Griffin, a former British SAS soldier who had been discharged from the army after he refused to be redeployed to Iraq - citing not only the "illegal" tactics of United States troops and the policies of coalition forces but also that the invasion itself was illegal, being contrary to international law - spoke to those assembled to emphasise the importance of war resisters. He told the protesters that hearing that even small numbers of people in the outside World were supporting them by protesting gave a huge emotional lift to all those Conscientious Objecters currently in military prisons.
“If we are not actively engaged in war resistance then we should be offering our support to those that are". said Griffin. "If it is true that Bradley Manning leaked The Afghan War Logs, The Iraq War Logs and the Collateral Murder video then the last place he should be is in prison. As far as I am concerned he is a Hero. Our countries have committed terrible crimes in Iraq and Afghanistan and it is only right that we should all know exactly what has been happening.”
Michael Lyons - also from Veterans for Peace UK - spoke about how reading the Afghan War Logs had confirmed his doubts about the legality of the actions carried out by coalition forces in Afghanistan. In 2010 Lyons - a former Navy medic - applied for Conscientious Objector status after reading the “Afghan War Logs” released by Wikileaks and refused to carry out rifle training in preparation for deployment to Afghanistan. He was sentenced to 7 months in Colchester military prison and was released in November 2011.
All photos © 2012 Pete Riches
Do not reproduce, alter or reblog my images without my written permission.
Hi-Res versions of these files are available for license on application. NUJ rates apply.
Parliament Square's iconic blue "Peace Box" removed by police - London, UK 03.05.2012
Following a recent High Court ruling that the injunction preventing the removal of the final protester's tent on Parliament Square could be lifted immediately, police and officials from Westminster council arrived with a lorry to clear away the large blue wooden "Peace Box" built by peace campaigner Maria Gallastegui - founder of peacestrike.org - who has been living in a tent on the pavement next to the box which was also used for storing protest materials and making cups of tea, and has held a continual protest on Parliament Square since 2006, much to the dismay and fury of a huge number of supposedly peace-loving MPs and Westminster Council.
Resignedly co-operating fully with the police, a philosophical Ms Gallastegui said that "The box is not the issue. My tent is not the issue. The issue is the ability for people to maintain sustained political protest in Parliament Square, and the critical need to protest against illegal wars waged against foreign countries to serve the predatory needs of the oil companies. Obviously I am very sad that the box has to go, but my protest does not stop because of it. It will continue in a different form." She also explained that she is going directly to the Court of Appeal to apply for another injunction against Westminster Council, and if that is not successful she will appeal to the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg.
High Court judge Sir John Thomas, whilst ruling that Westminster Council's by-laws prohibiting protesters from setting up tents or other "sleeping equipment" were legal, added that if Ms. Gallastegui's appeal is successful she would be allowed to place her tent back on the square, however; Justice Thomas refused her grounds for appeal in his court, paving the way for the eviction. Ms. Gallastegui has to take her appeal to the Appeals Court, and if she is unsuccessful she intends to take the matter to the European Courts.
In addition, the court order required that the Peace Box be removed "fully intact", so great care had to be taken by the police in removing it, which caused some wry smiles from the police officer who arrived with a sledge-hammer and a large fire-fighter's crowbar!
An earlier version of the iconic box - christened 'The Peace Plinth' and decorated with collaboration from 'Art Below' with three large white relief panels of an American soldier in battle uniform overlaid with blood-spattered lines from a latin poem by the Roman poet Horace "Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori" which translates as "It is sweet and fitting to die for one's country" (also quoted in Wilfred Owen's most famous World War I anti-war poem 'Dulce et Decorum Est') is currently on display in Los Angeles as part of 'The Brit Week T4C (Thanks for Caring)', and the current Parliament Square box is to be auctioned to raise money for an orphanage in Iraq for children orphaned by Western military aggression in the country.
Confusion ensued soon after the arrival of a panel truck when the attending Westminster Council officials and police realised that the vehicle was far too small to contain the box itself, so everyone had to wait until a vehicle-clampers' flatbed lorry with a car hoist was commissioned.
Half way through the eviction there was an astonishing verbal attack on Ms. Gallastegui by activists from the late Brian Haw's protest - sited further along the pavement and still fighting eviction - who accused her of some kind of treachery and insincerity because she wasn't verbally or physically fighting the police. Claiming some kind of ethical and moral superiority as the longest-established protest group on Parliament Square (having been there since 2001) and clutching several pro-Palestinian placards, the Haw camp activists, instead of showing as much as a single shred of support or solidarity with their fellow-protester, continued their criticism of Ms. Gallastegui and also accused her of somehow being a police stooge and collaborator before being moved on by a chief inspector.
Ten minutes later, as the blue box was being moved out onto the pavement prior to being lifted onto the back of a flat-bed lorry, one of the Haw camp activists - notorious for his aggression and relentless paranoia towards all journalists, photojournalists and, in fact, any other protesters and activists who have had any presence on Parliament square which they aggressively consider to be their turf - reappeared with a small sign saying "Police camp" and, suddenly cured of his pathological dislike of being photographed by anyone other than passing tourists or personal friends, overtly tried to insert himself into photos of the eviction process being taken by the assembled photojournalists to reinforce his accusation of Ms. Gallastegui and her supporters of being police agents.
Media buyers should view this story on Demotix or email me directly.
Standard NUJ rates apply.
All photos © 2012 Pete Riches
Do not reproduce, alter or reblog my images without my permission.
Hi-Res, un-watermarked versions of these files are available on application
Parliament Square's iconic blue "Peace Box" removed by police - London, UK 03.05.2012
Following a recent High Court ruling that the injunction preventing the removal of the final protester's tent on Parliament Square could be lifted immediately, police and officials from Westminster council arrived with a lorry to clear away the large blue wooden "Peace Box" built by peace campaigner Maria Gallastegui - founder of peacestrike.org - who has been living in a tent on the pavement next to the box which was also used for storing protest materials and making cups of tea, and has held a continual protest on Parliament Square since 2006, much to the dismay and fury of a huge number of supposedly peace-loving MPs and Westminster Council.
Resignedly co-operating fully with the police, a philosophical Ms Gallastegui said that "The box is not the issue. My tent is not the issue. The issue is the ability for people to maintain sustained political protest in Parliament Square, and the critical need to protest against illegal wars waged against foreign countries to serve the predatory needs of the oil companies. Obviously I am very sad that the box has to go, but my protest does not stop because of it. It will continue in a different form." She also explained that she is going directly to the Court of Appeal to apply for another injunction against Westminster Council, and if that is not successful she will appeal to the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg.
High Court judge Sir John Thomas, whilst ruling that Westminster Council's by-laws prohibiting protesters from setting up tents or other "sleeping equipment" were legal, added that if Ms. Gallastegui's appeal is successful she would be allowed to place her tent back on the square, however; Justice Thomas refused her grounds for appeal in his court, paving the way for the eviction. Ms. Gallastegui has to take her appeal to the Appeals Court, and if she is unsuccessful she intends to take the matter to the European Courts.
In addition, the court order required that the Peace Box be removed "fully intact", so great care had to be taken by the police in removing it, which caused some wry smiles from the police officer who arrived with a sledge-hammer and a large fire-fighter's crowbar!
An earlier version of the iconic box - christened 'The Peace Plinth' and decorated with collaboration from 'Art Below' with three large white relief panels of an American soldier in battle uniform overlaid with blood-spattered lines from a latin poem by the Roman poet Horace "Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori" which translates as "It is sweet and fitting to die for one's country" (also quoted in Wilfred Owen's most famous World War I anti-war poem 'Dulce et Decorum Est') is currently on display in Los Angeles as part of 'The Brit Week T4C (Thanks for Caring)', and the current Parliament Square box is to be auctioned to raise money for an orphanage in Iraq for children orphaned by Western military aggression in the country.
Confusion ensued soon after the arrival of a panel truck when the attending Westminster Council officials and police realised that the vehicle was far too small to contain the box itself, so everyone had to wait until a vehicle-clampers' flatbed lorry with a car hoist was commissioned.
Half way through the eviction there was an astonishing verbal attack on Ms. Gallastegui by activists from the late Brian Haw's protest - sited further along the pavement and still fighting eviction - who accused her of some kind of treachery and insincerity because she wasn't verbally or physically fighting the police. Claiming some kind of ethical and moral superiority as the longest-established protest group on Parliament Square (having been there since 2001) and clutching several pro-Palestinian placards, the Haw camp activists, instead of showing as much as a single shred of support or solidarity with their fellow-protester, continued their criticism of Ms. Gallastegui and also accused her of somehow being a police stooge and collaborator before being moved on by a chief inspector.
Ten minutes later, as the blue box was being moved out onto the pavement prior to being lifted onto the back of a flat-bed lorry, one of the Haw camp activists - notorious for his aggression and relentless paranoia towards all journalists, photojournalists and, in fact, any other protesters and activists who have had any presence on Parliament square which they aggressively consider to be their turf - reappeared with a small sign saying "Police camp" and, suddenly cured of his pathological dislike of being photographed by anyone other than passing tourists or personal friends, overtly tried to insert himself into photos of the eviction process being taken by the assembled photojournalists to reinforce his accusation of Ms. Gallastegui and her supporters of being police agents.
Media buyers should view this story on Demotix or email me directly.
Standard NUJ rates apply.
All photos © 2012 Pete Riches
Do not reproduce, alter or reblog my images without my permission.
Hi-Res, un-watermarked versions of these files are available on application
Bradley Manning vigil at US Embassy - London 17.12.2011
As part of a 14-country coordinated rally in support of Bradley Manning - the young U.S. Army intelligence analyst who is accused of leaking the “Afghan War Logs” to Wikileaks - a group of supporters of Manning representing Friends of Bradley Manning UK, Veterans for Peace UK, Payday Men's Network, Queer Friends of Bradley Manning and OccupyLSX gathered outside the US Embassy in Grosvenor Square in London's Mayfair for a vigil during which many speakers voiced their extreme concern for the well-being of Manning, and to praise his brave actions.
Manning has been held in U.S. military custody for 18 months. He faces multiple charges which would lead to a lifetime of imprisonment if convicted for allegedly sharing a video of a U.S. helicopter attack that killed 11 civilians and seriously wounded two children in Baghdad, Iraq with the WikiLeaks website. The footage had been withheld by the U.S.military from those trying to discover the truth about the attacks. Manning is also accused of leaking what is now referred to as 'The Afghan Logs' - more than 91,000 documents of classified U.S. military logs spanning six years of U.S. occupation of Afghanistan. His pre-trial hearing began before a military tribunal on Friday 16th December at Fort Meade, Maryland, USA, cynically arranged to coincide with Bradley Manning's 24th birthday.
Dreadlocked supporter of Bradley Manning, Australian-born Catholic Worker, Christian anarchist and non-violent resister Ciaron O'Reilly told the crowd the latest news from Manning's hearing in Fort Mead, and went on to describe the torture and abuse Manning has endured at the hands of his completely unnaccountable gaolers, first in Quantico and now in Fort Meade. During the 1991 Gulf War, O'Reilly was a member of the 'ANZUS Ploughshares' group which attacked a B-52 Bomber which was on 20-minute scramble alert, at Griffiss AFB near Utica, New York. Their actions put the aircraft out of action for the next two months at the height of the US bombing campaign in Iraq. Together with the other members of the group, he was arrested and sentenced to 13 months in the US penal system. After his return to Australia, O'Reilly took part in the 'Jabiluka Ploughshares' group action which disabled uranium mining equipment in the Northern Territory of Australia in 1998.
Veterans for Peace UK's Ben Griffin, a former British SAS soldier who had been discharged from the army after he refused to be redeployed to Iraq - citing not only the "illegal" tactics of United States troops and the policies of coalition forces but also that the invasion itself was illegal, being contrary to international law - spoke to those assembled to emphasise the importance of war resisters. He told the protesters that hearing that even small numbers of people in the outside World were supporting them by protesting gave a huge emotional lift to all those Conscientious Objecters currently in military prisons.
“If we are not actively engaged in war resistance then we should be offering our support to those that are". said Griffin. "If it is true that Bradley Manning leaked The Afghan War Logs, The Iraq War Logs and the Collateral Murder video then the last place he should be is in prison. As far as I am concerned he is a Hero. Our countries have committed terrible crimes in Iraq and Afghanistan and it is only right that we should all know exactly what has been happening.”
Michael Lyons - also from Veterans for Peace UK - spoke about how reading the Afghan War Logs had confirmed his doubts about the legality of the actions carried out by coalition forces in Afghanistan. In 2010 Lyons - a former Navy medic - applied for Conscientious Objector status after reading the “Afghan War Logs” released by Wikileaks and refused to carry out rifle training in preparation for deployment to Afghanistan. He was sentenced to 7 months in Colchester military prison and was released in November 2011.
All photos © 2012 Pete Riches
Do not reproduce, alter or reblog my images without my written permission.
Hi-Res versions of these files are available for license on application. NUJ rates apply.
Parliament Square's iconic blue "Peace Box" removed by police - London, UK 03.05.2012
Following a recent High Court ruling that the injunction preventing the removal of the final protester's tent on Parliament Square could be lifted immediately, police and officials from Westminster council arrived with a lorry to clear away the large blue wooden "Peace Box" built by peace campaigner Maria Gallastegui - founder of peacestrike.org - who has been living in a tent on the pavement next to the box which was also used for storing protest materials and making cups of tea, and has held a continual protest on Parliament Square since 2006, much to the dismay and fury of a huge number of supposedly peace-loving MPs and Westminster Council.
Resignedly co-operating fully with the police, a philosophical Ms Gallastegui said that "The box is not the issue. My tent is not the issue. The issue is the ability for people to maintain sustained political protest in Parliament Square, and the critical need to protest against illegal wars waged against foreign countries to serve the predatory needs of the oil companies. Obviously I am very sad that the box has to go, but my protest does not stop because of it. It will continue in a different form." She also explained that she is going directly to the Court of Appeal to apply for another injunction against Westminster Council, and if that is not successful she will appeal to the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg.
High Court judge Sir John Thomas, whilst ruling that Westminster Council's by-laws prohibiting protesters from setting up tents or other "sleeping equipment" were legal, added that if Ms. Gallastegui's appeal is successful she would be allowed to place her tent back on the square, however; Justice Thomas refused her grounds for appeal in his court, paving the way for the eviction. Ms. Gallastegui has to take her appeal to the Appeals Court, and if she is unsuccessful she intends to take the matter to the European Courts.
In addition, the court order required that the Peace Box be removed "fully intact", so great care had to be taken by the police in removing it, which caused some wry smiles from the police officer who arrived with a sledge-hammer and a large fire-fighter's crowbar!
An earlier version of the iconic box - christened 'The Peace Plinth' and decorated with collaboration from 'Art Below' with three large white relief panels of an American soldier in battle uniform overlaid with blood-spattered lines from a latin poem by the Roman poet Horace "Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori" which translates as "It is sweet and fitting to die for one's country" (also quoted in Wilfred Owen's most famous World War I anti-war poem 'Dulce et Decorum Est') is currently on display in Los Angeles as part of 'The Brit Week T4C (Thanks for Caring)', and the current Parliament Square box is to be auctioned to raise money for an orphanage in Iraq for children orphaned by Western military aggression in the country.
Confusion ensued soon after the arrival of a panel truck when the attending Westminster Council officials and police realised that the vehicle was far too small to contain the box itself, so everyone had to wait until a vehicle-clampers' flatbed lorry with a car hoist was commissioned.
Half way through the eviction there was an astonishing verbal attack on Ms. Gallastegui by activists from the late Brian Haw's protest - sited further along the pavement and still fighting eviction - who accused her of some kind of treachery and insincerity because she wasn't verbally or physically fighting the police. Claiming some kind of ethical and moral superiority as the longest-established protest group on Parliament Square (having been there since 2001) and clutching several pro-Palestinian placards, the Haw camp activists, instead of showing as much as a single shred of support or solidarity with their fellow-protester, continued their criticism of Ms. Gallastegui and also accused her of somehow being a police stooge and collaborator before being moved on by a chief inspector.
Ten minutes later, as the blue box was being moved out onto the pavement prior to being lifted onto the back of a flat-bed lorry, one of the Haw camp activists - notorious for his aggression and relentless paranoia towards all journalists, photojournalists and, in fact, any other protesters and activists who have had any presence on Parliament square which they aggressively consider to be their turf - reappeared with a small sign saying "Police camp" and, suddenly cured of his pathological dislike of being photographed by anyone other than passing tourists or personal friends, overtly tried to insert himself into photos of the eviction process being taken by the assembled photojournalists to reinforce his accusation of Ms. Gallastegui and her supporters of being police agents.
Media buyers should view this story on Demotix or email me directly.
Standard NUJ rates apply.
All photos © 2012 Pete Riches
Do not reproduce, alter or reblog my images without my permission.
Hi-Res, un-watermarked versions of these files are available on application