[Announce] Fw: ENGLAND-Catholic Worker Farmhouse Raided after "Feast of Holy Innocents" Witness at Northwood HQ

[Robert Waldrop]

Disturbing news from England.  RMW
----- Original Message ----- >
> --------- Forwarded message ----------
> From: Ciaron OReilly <ciaronx at yahoo.com>
> Date: Dec 28, 2007
>
> > Scott & Maria Albrecht, Fr, Martin Newell and 
> > Sr. Susan Clarkson
> remain in custody at Watford Police station 
> after being arrested at
> Northwood Military HQ at 9am this morning. Their 
> anti-war witness
> invoved the Northwood Headquarters sign being 
> covered with red paint
> symbolising blood spilt in Iraq and Afghanistan 
> by the daily grind of
> Northwood HQ. A respectful and dignified liturgy 
> then unfolded as both
> soldiers/police and Catholic Workers listened to 
> the names of the dead
> -  British military, Afghani and Iraq civilian, 
> how old they were,when
> they died, when and how they died. The refrain 
> "We remember you!" was
> sung after every name was read. Both resisters, 
> military and soldiers
> acted with dignity throughout the proceedings.
>
>
> At approx 5pm the Catholic Worker farmhouse 
> containing London Catholic
> Workers Ciaron and Chris, three of the Albrecht 
> children and a number
> of refugee guests was raided by 6 police 
> officers.  The plainclothes
> detectives, wearing anti-stab vests, appeared 
> very sophisticated,
> highly educated etc.  The search was extensive 
> and concentrated on the
> master bedroom and study. The search was very 
> thorough.
>
>
> I attempted to engage two of the officers 
> positioned in the kitchen in
> discussion pointing out that this seemed to be 
> an exercise in overkill
> and waste of police resources in relation to 
> minor charges of criminal
> damage.  I suggested that surely they had enough 
> evidence at the scene
> this morning to pursue their charges. After one 
> officer offered
> examples of follow up investigations into the 
> patterns of recividist
> shoplifters. I suggested this looked like a 
> conspiracy fishing
> expedition. I got a reluctant nod from one of 
> them.
>
>
> The criminalisation of dissent, the misuse of 
> conspiracy laws and the
> hyping up of nonviolent direct action into 
> something sinister gathers
> apace in Britain.  The war escalates in Iraq & 
> Afghanistan and expands
> into Pakistan, Somalia, Lebanon. Civil liberties 
> shrink and many who
> marched in 03 have disengaged. Where is this 
> leading?  We await the
> return of Maria & Scott, Fr. Maritn and Sr. 
> Susan and the deliverance
> of us all from this madness.
>
>
>
> Ciaron O'Reilly
> London Catholic Worker
> 16 De Beauvoir Rd,
> De Beauvoir Town
> London N1 5SU
> ENGLAND
>
>
> Landline 0207 249 0041
> From Overseas 0044 207 249 0041
>
>
> Mobile Calls & Text 0795 029 0857
> From Overseas +44 795 029 0857
>
>
> www.londoncatholicworker.org
> www.peaceontrial.com
>
>
> "The poor tell us who we are, The prophets tell 
> us who we could be, So
> we hide the poor, And kill the prophets."
> Phil Berrigan
>