Good Friday Resistance: 3 CWers Arrested at Downing St.-"Stop the Crucifixion of Bradley Manning...

international | anti-war / imperialism | news report

Monday April 25, 2011 06:05

by Frank Cordaro - Des Moines/ Iowa Catholic Worker.... visiting London

LONDON -Good Friday Resistance: 3 CWers Arrested at 10 Downing St. - "Stop the Crucifixion of Bradley Manning, Iraq and Afghanistan!"

Flickr Slide Show of 2011 Good Fri. Stations of the Cross in London England
http://www.flickr.com/photos/frank_cordaro_and_the_dm_c...9611/

Flickr Slide Show of 3 Catholic Workers Arrested at 10 Downing St - 2011 Good Fri.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/frank_cordaro_and_the_dm_c...2886/

LONDON -Good Friday Resistance: 3 CWers Arrested at 10 Downing St. - "Stop the Crucifixion of Bradley Maning, Iraq and Afghanistan!"
Report by Frank Cordaro
Photos by Brendan

Three Catholic Workers (CWers) were arrested after they breached the security gate at the
entrance of 10 Downing St. in London, the home of the UK Prime
Minister in a "Free Bradley Manning" Protest. The three arrested were
Steve Jacobs of the Columbia MO CW, Frank Cordaro of the Des Moines IA
CW and Ciaron O'Reilly of the London CW.

The witness took concluded the annual Good Friday Stations of the
Cross organized by the London CW, the London CW Farm and the Oxford
CW. In the introduction to the booklet prepared for this years
Stations, the CW'ers note that Christians around the world remember
that Jesus was crucified, suffered and died to show God's love for us
on this day. CW'ers believe that Christ continues to be condemned and
crucified today, in those who suffer as a result of:

The Arms Trade – which crucifies the poor.
Climate Change - which crucifies creation.
War – which crucifies the innocent.
Torture – which is a form of crucifixion.
Nuclear Weapons – which threaten to destroy the earth
International Debt – which is like the burden of the cross to the poor.
Homelessness – which reveals the ragged face of the crucified Christ.
Immigration Policy-which condemns the innocent people fleeing
persecution, poverty and violence.

To highlight each of these forms of modern day crucifixions a
“Geography of Suffering” was mapped out in the heart of London. Using
the scripture reflections of Fr Emmanuel Charles McCarthy of the
Center for Christian Nonviolence's Stations of the Cross as a
template, 15 sites within walking distance were mapped out to
correspond to the 15 traditional Stations of the Cross.
http://www.centerforchristiannonviolence.org/data/Media...D.pdf

Starting with the first station at 10 Downing Street, a procession of
20 people moved to the Ministry of Defense building, the Dept. of
Energy and Climate Change offices, the arms dealer Matra BAE Dynamics
Alenia headquarters, the Foreign Office, the Parliament, the Milbank –
home of the Committees on Arms Export Controls, the Security Service
MI-5 building, a Home Office building – responsible for immigration
control, former headquarter offices of Lockheed Martin – arms
manufacture, the headquarters of Qinetiq – a British global defense
technology company, offices of Rolls Royce – its military contract
branch, the Defense and Security Organization offices, the Treasury
Office and ending back at 10 Downing St.

When the group returned to 10 Downing Street. Ciaron O'Reilly made his
way to the front of the crowd of tourists, close to the security
gate. Frank Cordaro and Steve Jacobs followed close behind. At the
same time a London police security officer open the security gate to
let a car out of the Prime Ministers compound. That was all Ciaron,
Frank and Steve needed to slip past the security officer and set up
their protest inside the security space separating the public and the
Prime Ministers compound. (Stroke of luck? Act of God? There are no
accidents... )

What followed was a 40 minute stand off between the London police and
the three CW'ers. The time was not wasted. As soon as it was clear
that the police were not going to remove the three CW'ers immediately,
Ciaron started doing what he is know best for - “Soap Box” speaking.
As hundreds of tourists made there way past the site, Ciaron started
to inform them of why we were holding our protest to free Bradley
Manning. When he stopped Frank and Steve stepped in to fill in with
the public education moment, with help from NYC CW'er Carmen Trotta
and Oxford CW'er Sr Susan Clarkson.

At one point Frank was able to read the Gospel of Mark's Good Friday
account – stopping to remind the crowds were Jesus was being tortured
in the text.

Through out the stand off, different London police officers tried to
negotiate with Frank, Steve and Ciaron to remove themselves from the
site, informing them that they were illegaly occupying space that
could get them arrested and taken off to jail. All three CW'ers told
the officers that they were perfectly aware of the possibility of
arrest and jail and that despite this they were not going to remove
themselves voluntarily.

Armed police showed up immediately, followed by a couple of vans of
riot police.

Police repeatedly informed Steve, Frank and Ciaron that they were
going to be placed under arrest.

The 40 minute stand off concluded when the three CW'ers were escorted
away from the prime ministers residence. All three were taken across
the street, questioned and released – no charges as yet been made.

For more info and updates contact:
Ciaron O'Reilly
ciaronx ATyahoo.com
Blog http://ciaron.wordpress.com/

London Catholic Worker
londoncatholicworker AT yahoo.co.uk
http://www.londoncatholicworker.org/

London CW Farm
http://www.thecatholicworkerfarm.org/
Phone: (44) (0)1923 777201 Mobile: (+44) 07983 477819
E-mail: thecatholicworkerfarm AT yahoo.co.uk

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Comments (12 of 12)

SLIDESHOW - Los Angeles Catholic Worker Stations of the Cross Downtown L.A.

by L.A.C.W.

Sun May 08, 2011 08:44

SLIDESHOW - Los Angeles Catholic Worke Good Friday Stations of the Cross Downtown L.A.

http://lacatholicworker.org/wpg2?g2_itemId=4562

Frank Cordaro and Steve Jacobs among 50 risking arrest today at new nuke bomb factory in Kansas City

by Busted in KC - Kansas City Catholic Worker

Mon May 02, 2011 13:12

U.S. Catholic Workers Frank Cordaro and Steve Jacobs - who blockaded the entrance to Downing St. on Good Friday - are among 50 risking arrest today at new nuk bomb factory in Kansas City
Downing St. blocakade youtube footage (10 mins 53 secs)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6pFCQthlxgg

KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI, USA
Press release & statement of purpose:

Fifty to Risk Arrest at Anti-Nuke Easter Event at KC Plant, Monday May 2, 2011

Where: NEW KC PLANT SITE, MO Hwy 150 1 mile west of Interstate 71
When: Monday, May 2nd, beginning at 8:15am

The spirit of Easter has brought us together in hope--hope for life
over death. We are here to call for the conversion of this plant from
an instrument of war to an instrument of life.

On Monday, May 2nd, we expect over 150 people, both local and regional
supporters of KC Peace Planters to participate in an action at the new
KC Plant Site (MO 150 and Botts Rd.) The action will be titled
"Transformation, Not Annihilation: No Nukes." The event will feature a
street theater piece satirizing the "Religion of the Bomb," followed
by an ecumenical liturgy and an act of "Gospel Obedience," also known
as nonviolent direct action. We expect fifty people to risk arrest.

We lament this, the first new nuclear weapons production plant in 32
years, which will continue to make 85% of the parts for nuclear
weapons. We lament that over $815 million of municipal bonds--which
should be spent on social uplift--is being spent on bombs. We lament
the health risks posed by this plant to its workers and the people and
environment of Kansas City.

We have hope for the conversion of this plant--we imagine a rebirth
where this site would provide beneficial, peaceful and green jobs,
such as solar and wind energy jobs.

We support the local ballot initiative of KC Peace Planters and other
efforts for disarmament.

Quotes:
"This is not a partisan issue. This is a question of survival. We need
to change." Ann Suellentrop, KC Peace Planter

"The rebirth of Easter compels us to refuse the production of weapons
of mass destruction." Cassandra Dixon, Catholic Worker

Gina Cook, Mark Bartholomew, Rachael Hoffman, & Robyn Haas
Holy Family House CW Community
Kansas City
www.holyfamilycwhouse.org

"It is dangerous to be right in matters on which established authorities are wrong." Volataire

by Voltaire - Truth.Out

Wed Apr 27, 2011 15:57

Free Bradley Manning
Tuesday 26 April 2011
by: William Rivers Pitt, Truthout

It is dangerous to be right in matters on which established authorities are wrong.

- Voltaire

I have a confession to make: I have been on the fence about Bradley Manning as the drama of his detention and the Wikileaks documents have unfolded. While I believe deeply that those who leak classified materials are acting out of conscience and for the good of the people, I also believe criminal acts - even ones of conscience - must be met with punishment as required in any society that wishes to live by the rule of law. Arrest and detention are part of any illegal act of civil disobedience, and are to be expected as the natural consequence of such an act.

Chain yourself to a fence, and expect to be arrested for trespassing. Pour blood on the nose cone of a nuclear missile, and expect to be arrested for destruction of property. The threat of arrest, detention and possible conviction is part of the package that is civil disobedience, and those who take part in it must accept the consequences as part of their act of conscience. Indeed, it is the acceptance of punishment that lies at the heart of that conscience: they are breaking a law to highlight a wrong, are willing to be punished to underscore that wrong, and in doing so, demonstrate how far they are personally willing to go in order to end that wrong and inspire others in the process.

That's where I've been with Bradley Manning - his was an act of conscience that broke the law, and the consequences of that act must be accepted - until now.

How wrong I was.

Article conitnued...........
http://www.truth-out.org/free-bradley-manning/1303830295

YOUTUBE - 11 arrested at Good Friday Liturgy Seattle Federal Building, Washinton state, USA

by GF Seattle11 arrested

Wed Apr 27, 2011 04:44

Seattle, Washington state, USA

YOUTUBE - Four minute clip of our Good Friday anti--imperial/ anti-war "extended liturgy"/ 11 arrested
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8RqkFxMBq10.

The annual Proclamation of the Passion According to John at the
Seattle federal building today culminated in an "extended liturgical
action" in which 1/2 gallon of symbolic blood was poured over the
hands of members of the assembly and then participants marked the
concrete walls and glass doors of the building with their hand-prints.

Below is the leaflet used at today's event.

Those arrested were Ben Adam, Sue Ferguson Johson, Peter Gallagher -
former LACW intern, Wes Howard-Brook, Barbara Isole, Sarah Klassen,
Donovan Malley - member of Seattle CW, Weldon Nisly, Marilyn Ottinger,
Jack Towe and Don Whitman. The charge was, with no small irony,
"preservation of property."

Blessings and love to all as we witness to God's Uprising!

Wes Howard-Brook

----------------------

(leaflet text below)

Why are we at the Federal Building on Good Friday?

For Christians all around the world, Good Friday is one of the most
sacred days of the year. This day, we proclaim the Passion according
to John’s Gospel, a narrative in which Jesus, God’s presence in “the
world,” is arrested, questioned, tortured and murdered by those
committed to maintaining a brutal status quo. We gather to pray, to
weep, to remember, and to witness to the countless ways people
continue to share the fate of Jesus today.

We gather at the federal building because it is the local parallel to
where Jesus was held and abused: the Roman governor’s local head-
quarters. Then, as now, the central government claimed the power of
life and death, while so often doing the will of the wealthy elite.
Our federal government, like that of ancient Rome, blatantly serves
corporations and banks while taxing and exploiting the poor and middle
class. We stand in its shadow to announce God’s Victory over this
system of global oppression and empire.

Around the world, people are rising up against tyranny and claiming
their God-given freedom and dignity, often at great personal risk. We
are inspired by their courage and pray that God’s Spirit fill everyone
with that same courage that witnesses fearlessly to God’s power of
transforming love in the face of the murder and lies perpetrated by
those holding power in “the world.”

We invite you to join us on this holy day: to pray, to sing, to cry,
to join together in sacred solidarity as we proclaim the Good News of
Jesus, whose life, death and resurrection show us the Way to true
peace for all humanity and all creation.

Last round up begins....

by Last round up

Tue Apr 26, 2011 21:44

The Grand Jury sitting in Virgina investigating Wikileaks has started issuing subpoenas - violations of the Espionage Act are cited. More news when I have it.

VID-Heckling Obama for Bradley in San Franciso last week at Democrat fundraiser

by VID-Heckle Obama for Brad

Tue Apr 26, 2011 21:08

VID-Heckling Obama for Bradley in San Franciso last week at Democrat fundraiser
"We paid our dues! Where's our change?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5uhKYQo5AqQ

Leavenworth (from memory)

by Ciaron - W(ELSH), I(rish), S(cottish), E(nglish) for Bradley Manning

Tue Apr 26, 2011 19:30

Leavenworth is a small town in central USA. The Con Air flight I was on in '91 stopped over there and unloaded military prisoners, en route to El Reno Fed Pen Okalahoma.

The population (from memory) of Leavenworth is approx 20,000, it has 5 prisons (military and civilian). Priosns are the economic base of the town. Steve Jacobs (in the above youtube) served a year in prison there for nonviolent resistance at the Shool of the Americas https://www.soaw.org
Frank Cordaro has also done time in a civilian prison in the town for NV resistance at STRATCOM, Omaha.

The town is about an hour's drive from Kansas City, Missouri...where we have a strong CW community. Frank and Steve will be in KC at a weekend of nonviolent resistance to the new nuclear weapons factory being constructed in KC. They will brief CW's and plowshares folks on generating significance of Bradley Manning. Also in attendancw will be Fr. Carl Kabat who was sentenced to 18 years for a plowshares action on a nuclear missile silo in Missouri in 1984.

Bradley Manning to be transferred to Army prison in Kansas

by tom

Tue Apr 26, 2011 15:54

http://www.wsws.org/articles/2011/apr2011/mann-a21.shtml

How can U have a fair military hearing when their Commander-in-Chief has already decreed his guilt?

by Oh Bummer!!!!!!!!

Tue Apr 26, 2011 14:24

How can Manning possibly expect to receive a fair hearing from military officers when their Commander-in-Chief has already decreed his guilt?

the video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IfmtUpd4id0

The transcript:
OBAMA: So people can have philosophical views [about Bradley Manning] but I can’t conduct diplomacy on an open source [basis]… That’s not how the world works.

And if you’re in the military… And I have to abide by certain rules of classified information. If I were to release material I weren’t allowed to, I’d be breaking the law.

We’re a nation of laws! We don’t let individuals make their own decisions about how the laws operate. He broke the law.

[Q: Didn't he release evidence of war crimes?]

OBAMA: What he did was he dumped…

[Q: Isn't that just the same thing as what Daniel Ellsberg did?]

OBAMA: No it wasn’t the same thing. Ellsberg’s material wasn’t classified in the same way.
— http://fdlaction.firedoglake.com/2011/04/22/obama-on-ma...rial/

Glenn Greenwald's excellent analysis
http://www.salon.com/news/opinion/glenn_greenwald/2011/....html

Wales A25 Solidarity with Bradley Manning at the Green Fair

by Wales A25

Tue Apr 26, 2011 12:38

Wales A25 Solidarity with Bradley Manning at the Green Fair
http://bradleymanningcymru.wordpress.com/

Bradley's maternal grandfather was from Dublin.
Bradley's mother, aunt and maternal family are from Wales. They presently live in Wales.
The F.B.I. made their way to the village of the Manning family after Bradley's arrest in Iraq and transfer to military prison in the U.S.

Bradley spent 4 years at high school in Wales, before returning to initially live with his father in the U.S.

There is a growing solidarity with Bradley Manning growing in Wales........ this is their website

11 min edited Youtube video of 40 min Downing St Bradley Manning solidarity action

by YOUTUBE Frank - Des Moines Catholic Worker visiting London

Mon Apr 25, 2011 21:40

Previous posting: 3 CW'ers - Ciaron O'Reilly, Steve Jacobs and Frank
Cordaro - arrested at 10 Downing St. on Good Friday in a "Free Bradley
Manning" Protest after annual London CW Stations of the Cross
https://groups.google.com/group/National-CW-E-mail-List...hl=en

----

11 min edited Youtube video of 3 Catholic Workers 40 min "Free
Bradley Manning" Good Friday protest, stand off and arrest at 10
Downing Street, London

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6pFCQthlxgg

The above link is to an 11 min Youtube clip edited by Maria Albrecht
of the 40 minute stand off and arrest of
Ciaron O'Reilly of the London CW, Steve Jacobs of the Columbia Mo CW
and Frank Cordaro of the Des Moines IA CW. It includes speeches made
by all three Catholic Workers (CW'ers) explaining to the crowd of
tourists why they were blocking the entrance to the Prime Minister's
residence and why they were willing to risk arrest. They share with
the crowd who Bradley Manning is and why Manning needs peoples
support. They talk about the current USA and English lead wars and why
peace makers must move beyond talk to active nonviolent resistance to
end these wars. They are joined by NYC CW'er Carmen Trotta who helps
to explain to the passing tourists why his friends are risking arrest
to bring attention to Bradley Manning's case. Throughout the 11 min
video clip the London police try to talk the protesting CW'ers into
leaving the site. The clip ends with the three CW'ers being arrested
and escorted off site and across the street from the Prime Ministers
residence.

*Ciaron O'Riellly 30 yr veteran CWer has done three
plowshares actions on three different continents and served over 2
years of prison for peace
*Franjk Cordaro 35 yr veteran CW'er, member of
the Gods of Metal Plowshares and has done over five years of prison
times for peace work in the USA
*Steve Jacobs 30 yr veteran CW'er, SOA activists who
has done 18 months of prison for peace work in the USA

For more info and updates contact:
Ciaron O'Reilly
ciaronx AT yahoo.com
Blog http://ciaron.wordpress.com/

London Catholic Worker
londoncatholicworker AT yahoo.co.uk
http://www.londoncatholicworker.org/

London CW Farm
http://www.thecatholicworkerfarm.org/
Phone: (44) (0)1923 777201 Mobile: (+44) 07983 477819
E-mail: thecatholicworkerfarm AT yahoo.co.uk

Good Friday Resistance - 37 Arrested Against Drone Warfare - Syracuse, New York , USA

by Syracuse USA

Mon Apr 25, 2011 08:57

Photos/ Report Syracuse Post Standard
http://www.syracuse.com/news/index.ssf/2011/04/war_prot....html

April 23rd, 2011
Resister Press Release:

http://www.syracuse.com/news/index.ssf/2011/04/war_prot....html

9 Ithacans Among 37 Arrested in Anti-Drone, Anti-War Protest at Syracuse Hancock Airport

Over 250 people gathered at the gates of Hancock Air Base out side of Syracuse to say "Ground the Drones, Stop the Wars". The Air Base is home to the 174th Fighter Wing of the New York Air National Guard that has been remotely flying MQ-9 Reaper drones over Afghanistan, from Syracuse, since late 2009. The unmanned surveillance aircraft is armed with Hellfire missiles and laser-guided bombs. Formerly an F-16 fighter jet base, it is now a national training center for Reaper Drone maintenance, and it is preparing to be a training center for drone pilots and sensor operators as well.

The rally was organized by the Upstate Coalition to Ground the Drones and End the Wars, who chose to protest outside Hancock Air Base because it has become an important player in the military's increasing use of the drones in Pakistan, Afghanistan,Iraq and Yemen.

The Upstate Coalition to Ground the Drones and End the Wars, a group of concerned citizens from Buffalo, Rochester, Ithaca, Binghamton, Syracuse, Rome and Albany, organized a week of education and action to protest the wars and the use of the drones , culminating in the rally late Friday afternoon.

Nobel Peace Prize nominee, Kathy Kelly spoke of meeting some of the wounded survivors of the drone strikes and the families members of the who died in the strikes.

"I met people displaced by a drone attack in the Helmand Province, One man showed me the photos of his children’s bloodied corpses. The drone attack killed his spouse and his five children. In the Chariahi Qambar refugee camp, I sat next to Juma Gul, a nine year old girl whose arm was amputated by the same drone attack.She was punished horribly even though she committed no crime. We want to be in solidarity with her”

“It’s criminal for the US to spend 2 billion dollars per week for war in Afghanistan that maims, kills and displaces innocent civilians who’ve meant us no harm.” She said.

Towards the end of the rally, 34 people from the group, lay down in the roadway into the base and 3 others walked toward the gate in an attempt to deliver an indictment to the commander of the base for violations of human rights.

The indictment charges the chain of command, from President Barack Obama, to Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, to Commander Colonel Kevin Bradley, to every drone crew with the following crimes; extrajudicial killings, violation of due process, wars of aggression, violation of national sovereignty, and the killing of innocent civilians. The indictment sited The Constitution; international law, including the UN Charter and the Nuremberg Principles; and the Golden Rule.

The nine Ithacans arrested are Danny Burns, Clare Grady, Ellen Grady, Mary Anne Grady Flores, Suzy Kyssack, James Ricks, Todd Saddler, Mark Scibilia-Carver and Ian Sloan. The group was charged with obstructing governmental administration (a class B misdamenor) and disorderly conduct (a violation)
They have court hearings in the town of Dewitt, near Syracuse, May 3rd and May 4th.

The others arrested were , Jerome Berrigan 91 Syracuse, NY , Kathleen Kelly 58, Chicago, IL, Retired Col. Anne Wright 64, Honolulu, HI, Julius Orkin 72, Bergenfield, NJ, Elliot Adams 64, Sharon Springs, NY, Martha Hennessy 55, Perkinsville, VT, MW Wadsworth 32,Utica, NY 32, Bernard Survil 70, Bradford, PA, George Homanich 63, Binghamton, NY, Victoria Ross 56, Buffalo, NY, Ithaca, NY, Harry Murray 59, Rochester, NY, Joan Pleune 72, Brooklyn, NY, Paul Wittjung 67, Syracuse, NY, Edward Kinane 67, Syracuse, NY, Ann Tiffany 75, Syracuse, NY, Col. Anne Wright 64, Honolulu, HI, Judith Bello 60, Webster, NY, Patricia Powers 55, Utica, NY, Mary Synder 86, Johnson City, NY, Beverly Rice 73, New York, New York, Peter Bianco 32, New Hartford, NY, Brian Terrell 54, Maloy, Cynthia Banas 81, Vernon, NY, Rae Kramer 50, Syracuse, NY, Juliene Oldfield 73, Syracuse, NY, Kathleen Rumpf 59, Syracuse, NY, Richard Vallejo 24, Liverpool, NY, Elizabeth Adams 65, Leverett, MA, James Clune 63, Binghamton, NY.

The Ithacans were released on their own personal recognizance as were most arrestees, though a few had to pay bail. Kathy Kelly and Martha Hennessy refused to pay bail and they were released on Easter Sunday.

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Good Friday Resistance: 3 CWers Arrested at Downing St.-"Stop the Crucifixion of Bradley Manning...

Comments (12 of 12)