Damien
Moran, Polish activists, deported by Homeland Suckyourity before Broadmoor protest
Democracy Now report
on arrest and exportation of Damien Moran before Springs protest
Sorry I didn't get to meet
you all. It looks like Europe will be our rendez-vous point.
Best regards,
Damien Moran
Irish anti-war activist
Damien Moran, acquitted in Dublin Circuit court 18 months
ago by jury trial of doing €2 million disarmament to a U.S. military plane
at Shannon airport as a protest against the Iraq war, was deported from the U.S.A.
on Sunday by Homeland Security agents at Chicago's O'Hare airport.
Moran
had been invited to attend and speak at a conference against the U.S. Government's
missile defence plans. The 27 year old County Offaly native is a former seminarian
with the Holy Ghost Fathers in Kimmage and is currently living and teaching
in Poland. Prior to leaving for Poland he worked with the De Paul
Trust at a homeless shelter in Dublin's city centre.
Regarding the deportation Moran stated: "I was immediately detained and
questioned by Homeland Security officers about our nonviolent and legal action
at Shannon in February 2003. The information the border authorities claimed
to have was that I was arrested for damaging a U.S. fighter jet at Shannon.
I let them know that their database was out of date and that it should also
read acquitted as an Irish jury had decided unanimously we had a lawful excuse
to help save life and property in Iraq."
He continued: "My mobile phone was seized and I was interrogated about
the purpose of my trip and why I had damaged U.S. military property. I had been
invited to speak at a university in Colorado Springs and at a conference
in Omaha on U.S. militarism in Poland and Ireland. I also had tickets to
visit my brother and his family in Virginia. Homeland Security 's unjustified
refusal to allow me enter the U.S. and meet family, speak with U.S. citizens
is just another example of how quasi-fascist the U.S. State apparatus has become."
Furthermore, Moran claims that modern-day America is summed up by "his deportation
from to the U.S. to advocate for social investment and military divestment on
the same weekend as the U.S. officially celebrates the life of Martin Luther King Jr. I was barred
from entering due to my act of dissent at Shannon 5 years ago against their
disastrous militaristic policies at home and abroad. Evidently there is no room
for dissenters' and foreign peace activists in America today "
Furthermore the deportee claims "It is high time the omnipotent military
-industrial complex in the U.S. is crushed by concerned citizens.When I informed
them about our action and acquittal they were none too pleased. Unfortunately
I've lost $350 dollars in flight expenses while the Global Network Against Weapons
in Space organisation that invited me have been setback over $1,000. Albeit,
it's not much money compared to the $2 trillion plus bill that U.S. taxpayers
have paid to help their government wage the Iraq war."
As regards the Shannon Ploughshares action he was acquitted for with 4 colleagues
more info. can be sourced at www.warontrial.com
Moran's current activities include resistance to the controversial U.S. missile
defence plans for Poland. See www.m29.bzzz.net for more
details.
Check out my latest Blogs: www.peacenikhurler.blogspot.com
Polish activist news:
www.cia.bzzz.net/english_news
Campaign Against Militarism: www.m29.bzzz.net www.tarcza.org