Two of the members of the live-in community of the Dublin Catholic Worker are awaiting trial for their disarmament action at Shannon Airport in February 2003. Ciaron and Damien, along with Nuin Dunlop, Karen Fallon and Deidre Clancy entered Shannon Airport in the south of Ireland and disabled a US Navy Aircraft bound for Iraq during the build up to the war. For more information about the action, future court appearances, fundraiser benefits and support ideas go to www.ploughsharesireland.org

Solidarity with Ongoing Resistance at the School of the Americas

November 16th, 16 Years Ago, Graduates of 'School of the Americas' massacred 6 Jesuits & 2 Salvadoran Women.

This Weekend - 10,000 will Gather at Ft. Benning, Georgia, to Close the School of the Assasins Down!

The resistance continues at the School of the Americas. A solidarity vigil (multi-faith/no faith) will be held on Saturday Nov 19th. 12 noon - 2pm at the US Embassy, Dublin, while friends gather for resistance at Ft. Benning on Sunday Nov 20th.

In the early hours of Nov 16th. 1989, Salvadoran graduates of Ft. Benning's (Georgia, USA) of the "School of the Americas" forced their way into the Jesuit residence of the Central American University in San Salvador. They brutally murdered six Jesuit priests (one a Graduate of MIlltown Seminary Dublin) and two Salvadoran women co-workers. Graduates shot the brains out of the Jesuits with M16's at close range and turned a flame thrower on the library - in a brutal attack on critical thought in the US Empire and a threat to others.

75,000 others had been killed in El Salvador at this point in a war bankrolled by the US government.

The murders of Ignacio Martin-Baro, Amando Lopez, Elba Ramos, Ignacio Ellacuria, Segundo Montes, Juan Ramon Moreno, Celina Ramos and Joaquin Lopez y Lopez immediately took on special symbolic importance.

A wave of nonviolent reistance against the continued US sponsored war took place in the US. Joe Mulligan SJ & Phil Berrigan were arrested marking the White House with the blood of the victims brought from the crime scene to Washington DC.

On the first annivesary of the massacre Fr. Roy Bourgeois (who had been imprisoned in the '80's for nonviolent resistance at the School of the Americas), Charlie Liteky(winner of the Congretional Medal of honour in Vietnam, which he had returned with his military pension in protest against US wars in Central America) an Pat Liteky poured a large quantity of donated blood at the entrance at the SOA.

Roy and Charlie (both Vietnam Vets who had trained at Ft. Benning) and Pat were sentenced to 6-12 months by 86 year old Judge Elliot (a good freind of My Lai's Lt. Calley).

Every year since, Americans & others opposed to the state sponsored terror of the SOA gather at Ft. Benning to close the school. Some folks trespass and usually receive 6-12 month sentences. Last year (N16 2003, 10,000 gathered). Fr. Jerry Zwada remains in prison for his trespass, others have been recently released. Fr. Jim Hynes originally from Ballyfermot (now living in San Antonia after working in Peru) served 6 months in 2003.

Over 170 women and men have served sentences in federal Prisons and County Jails for nonviolent resistance at SO totalling 170 years.

The Pentagon has attempted to rebrand the School as the "Western Hemisphere Institute of Security"

For more background on Nonviolent Resistance to the School of the Americas check the link below....

http://www.soaw.org

Peace Vigil - Demilitarise Shannon - Irish Aviation Authority, Burgh Quay, Dublin City Centre.

We continue to hold a weekly vigil every Monday at the GPO in Dublin City Centre, from 4-6pm.

According to the Dept. of Foreign Affairs Shannon Airport has facilitated 360,000 US soldiers over the past 3 years. These troops have been en transit to and from war theatres in the Gulf. US military planes and 'civilian' aircraft contracted by the US military use Shannon as a refueling pitstop. The Irish government continue to permit on average 25,000 U.S. troops, carrying with them munitions of war, to pass through Shannon Airport each month.

We attempt to communicate this information to the public in the hope that it will encourage people to reflect on Ireland's own ongoing complicity in the illegal and immoral war and occupation of Iraq, Afghanistan, and other U.S. Imperial colonies. We hope such reflection leads to non-violent resistance to oppose the drumbeats of war.

Click here for a report on a previous vigil, held outside the G.P.O during the visit of USS Lasalle to Dublin Port. .

Previous Vigils

An all night vigil was held outside the Israeli embassy on the day of Mordechai Vanunu�s release from Ashkelon Prison after 18 years incarceration. Read a report by Ciaron O�Reilly.

Remember 500+ Years of Genocide at U.S. Embassy on Oct 11th, Columbus Day!

The Dublin Catholic Worker will hold a vigil outside the US embassy on Monday October 11th from 5pm until 7pm.

Respectfully Remembering the Dead - Nonviolently Defending the Living.

In 1492, Colombus initiated a chain of events that would bring mass genocide and ecological destruction to the new world. It would also lead to the foundation of the USA armed with a concept of manifest destiny that would mean scores of military interventions, slaughter and suffering across the globe. We will gather at the U.S. Embassy on Columbus Day Monday Oct. 11th. to remember those who have suffered and continue to suffer - from the Irouqois to Iraqis.

Gather at U. S. Embassy (Cnr. of Elgin & Pembrooke No. 10 Bus from City Centre) at 5pm

U.S. citizen, journalist and anti-war activist Harry Browne will reflect on the current annihilative foreign policies of the Bush administration and is John Kerry worse or better?

U.S. Harpist Brenda will commemorate the war dead as their names are read out by those attending the vigil.

Personal testimonies of experiences from countries suffering from U.S. military intervention.

*North America - Harry Browne *Australia & Oceania - Ciaron O'Reilly *Haiti - Damien Moran

Also.... *Iraq *Palestine *East Timor *West Papua *Chile *El Salvador *Nicaragua and elsewhere

Essential to the acts of resistance is fostering a culture of solidarity. We believe it is crucial to support those incarcerated who have acted for peace and justice. Please consider writing a letter to a peace prisoner today! Click here for a list of names and addresses.