Jailed anti-war activist gets support in West Bank demo
A group of Palestinian villagers showed solidarity with jailed Galway anti-war activist Margaretta D’arcy during their weekly protest against the Apartheid Wall in the West Bank on Friday afternoon.
The people of Bil’in, who have staged a protest every week since an Israeli-built wall cut off 60% of their land some years ago, demonstrated placards in honour of Ms D’arcy before being fired on with tear gas by Israeli soldiers.
They were alerted to Margaretta’s imprisonment by Galway activist Tommy Donnellan, who stayed in Bil’in during a three month visit to the West Bank last year.
Mr Donnellan printed off a number of posters in support of Margaretta at I Supply in Galway and then emailed them to village photographer Haitham Al Khatib, who printed off the large placards in the city of Ramallah.
Bil’in was made famous by the film ‘5 Broken Cameras’, which was nominated for an Academy Award last year.
“I have been in Palestine six times since 2008 and I always stay in Bil’in,” said Mr Donnellan yesterday. “They hold a weekly protest every Friday since 60% of the village’s land was cut off by the Apartheid Wall.
“Often the protests end with tear gas, rubber bullets, or even live bullets being fired on the demonstrators. I knew they would be protesting last Friday, so I got the posters printed off at I Supply in Galway and I was able to email them to Haitham.”
One of the placards shows Ms D’arcy and her late husband, John Arden, at a stall in support of the people of Palestine at Shop Street in Galway some years ago.
Mr Donnellan said the Palestinian villagers were delighted to honour Ms D’arcy (79) after hearing of how she had been jailed 13 days ago for refusing to stay away from the restricted areas of Shannon Airport. She has refused to back down.
“When I went on to the runway I did so to stop war crimes,” she told supporters on Sunday. “It would seem it is ok for me to witness crimes, but not to do something to stop them.”
Demonstrations in support of Margaretta – and against the US military use of Shannon – were also held in Galway, Limerick, London, and Dublin over the weekend.
Fifteen MEPs from eight countries have also written to the Minister for Justice, Alan Shatter, to call for her to be released from Limerick Prison.
Mr Donnellan will distribute some of the 1,000 postcards he has printed in support of Margaretta D’arcy at Shop Street today (11am to 6pm). Supporters will be asked to send them to Ms D’arcy at Limerick Prison.