Challenges to democracy and peace

Today's vigil

Pat Gaffney, Vice President of Pax Christi, Executive of Catholic Nonviolence Initiative writes:

For three days over the past week I have taken part in nonviolent protests and gatherings related to what is happening in Gaza. Now, with many others, if I do something as simple as wearing a badge or carrying a placard, I could be charged under anti-terrorism legislation.

If we are not watchful, we could lose more democratic freedom and the right to act in conscience against wars, injustice and unjust laws.

On Wednesday, I took part in the weekly Women in Black vigil at the Edith Cavell statue near Trafalgar Square. Women have been gathering here weekly for more than 20 years, challenging the culture of militarism, violence and war in a silent vigil, with some women handing out leaflets about the theme each week. On Wednesday it was our frustration at the silence of the media on Gaza and Palestine as the US, Israel and Iran decide if there is to be another war! We called out our complicity as a nation through the arms and military training we 'sell' to Israel and our governments silence in taking any meaningful action to stop the total destruction of Gaza. While we sometimes engage in difficult conversations we have never been prevented from holding our vigil.

Later that same day 385 MPs voted to 'proscribe' the nonviolent direct action group Palestine Action in effect criminalising legitimate protest. The focus for their actions over several years have been companies involved in providing arms and military support to Israel and the specific 'trigger' for this new legal action was PAs attempt to disarm two Airbus Voyagers with red paint and crowbars.

PA were in an on-going legal challenge to this proscription, were in the High Court on Friday trying to stop the ban coming into force at midnight. For more than five hours, hundreds gathered to support them, representing a cross-section of age, interest, and ethnicity. We heard speakers from human rights groups and from medical workers returned from Gaza, all affirming the need to take action to stop the destruction of Gaza and from activists. A friend and I stood in silence facing the road so that people could see why we were there. Gabriel's placard read: 'Support Nonviolence. Support Palestine Action. Oppose Genocide'. Mine had a message from Pope Francis: 'We ask for peace for this world subjected to arms dealers, who profit from the blood of men, women and children.'

Sadly, they failed and have become the first protest group to be banned under the Terrorism Act 2000 and the ban came into force at midnight. The ban also means that others who support PA, wearing a badge or carrying a placard with their name for instance, will also be 'proscribed' and potentially face a 14 year prison sentence.

In anticipation of this, a brave group of people planned a silent action in Parliament Square today, in front of Gandhi's statue. Their intention was to nonviolently break the new ban, to cross the line as it were. Their message: 'I oppose genocide. I support Palestine Action.' After about 20 minutes of silent presence, at least 10 police vans arrived to begin the arrests of more than 20 people. I would say mostly women, one of whom was an 83 year-old retired Anglican priest, another a climate activist, another a former staff member of Peace News. I was in a support role, monitoring the arrests and trying to keep track of where they were being taken.

While I feel sure many of the police dislike this new role they have been given by the Home Secretary, aware that most protest groups campaigning on war and Gaza are nonviolent, they are bound by this law - unless brave enough to refuse and act in conscience. What a total waste of their time too - there are many laws already in place to deal with protest.

And what about the rest of us?

We still march, sign petitions, write letters, divest our savings, fundraise for humanitarian aid, hold prayer vigils - and we must keep doing all of these things. But we are in new territory. As Christian campaigners where will we place ourselves in protecting democracy, the rights of the vulnerable, in upholding freedom of speech, and the rights of conscience?

Are we trained in the tools of nonviolence that could equip us to analyse, discern, plan for and act for change? I am reminded of the words of the Lutheran pastor Martin Neimöller, during the Second World War: First they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out-because I was not a socialist. Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out-because I was not a trade unionist. Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out-because I was not a Jew. Then they came for me-and there was no one left to speak for me.