As the anti-war movement gains momentum in the United States, with Iraq demonstrations planned this month in Washington and San Francisco, one British man has been at it longer than most. Brian Haw’s outdoor vigil, now in its 500th day, started before President Bush and Prime Minister Tony Blair began to float their plan for “regime change” in Baghdad.
Haw, 53, From Redditch, Worcestershire, set up camp across from England’s Houses of Parliament on June 2, 2001, back when the summer’s headlines were dominated by Bush’s historically long presidential vacation.
Haw has spent 500 days and nights on the pavement opposing the economic sanctions placed on Iraq at the start of the 1991 Persian Gulf War. Aimed at preventing Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein from acquiring weapons of mass destruction, the sanctions have also prevented Iraqis from receiving food and life-saving medical treatment. Haw says that he is protesting the “genocide of Iraqi children.”
“Stop killing my kids,” reads the banner above his canvas fold-out bed.
To take his message public, however, Haw had to virtually abandon his own children. The former merchant seaman and furniture salesman, left his wife and seven kids at home to begin his protest two summers ago.
“It was my last resort,” he said recently, squatting as he rolled a cigarette with leathery fingers.
“When you have genocide ignored, babies tortured, half a million murdered … what else could I do?”
Like Haw, Iraq claims the U.N. sanctions are starving Iraq’s children and depriving them of basic healthcare. The United Nations, however, insists that its oil-for-food program allows Saddam enough revenue to provide for his peope — but he diverts the oil revenues to build palaces and keep his army happy.
Surrounded by hand-painted signs demanding peace and justice, Haw eagerly speaks — and sings — to the public about his opposition to Bush’s plan to topple Saddam’s regime. He explains that his message is neither against the American nor the British people — only against the leadership.
Haw, a devout Christain, believes that his work to educate and diffuse his message of peace has been productive. “We each have to play our part with all our love, all our care,” he said. “Last Christmas, I spoke to the world for three minutes on CNN.”
As for the British press, “Parliament has been under siege for 500 days and the people are just beginning to hear about it now!”
Haw has weathered high winds, heavy rains, verbal abuse from passersby and the discontent of government officials.
“Between Westminster and the GLA (Greater London Authority), they’re trying to crack me like a nut.”
City officials recently tried to take out an injunction against him for obstructing a public highway, a legal term that includes sidewalks. But a judge ruled on Oct. 4 that Haw is exercising his right to free speech and does not constitute an unreasonable obstruction. His right to lobby was supported by several high-profile public figures, including lawmakers and European legislatures.
After 500 days, however, Haw says the protest is beginning to take a toll.
“Yes, I want to go home,” he said.
But he says that as long as there is a cause to fight for his home will be on the pavement opposite the Houses of Parliament.
MSNBC.com's Jennifer Carlile is based in London.