Malachy Kilbride

Last updated

Malachy Kilbride is an Irish-American social justice and peace activist who primarily works with Washington Peace Center [1] in Washington, D.C. He is a former board member of this non-profit organization. He was born in New York City and spent part of his childhood in Dublin, Ireland. He is the son of an Irish immigrant, his father, Aidan Kilbride, and his mother, Mary Moran Kilbride, the daughter of Irish immigrants to New York City. He is the nephew of Fintan Kilbride. He has two brothers, Aidan Jr. and Barney.

Contents

Activism

Through the Washington Peace Center Kilbride works as an activist-organizer on a variety of peace and justice issues including opposing the war and occupation of Iraq and Afghanistan, the abolition of torture, opposing the USA PATRIOT Act, the US Military Commissions Act of 2006, [2] the closing of the Guantanamo Bay prison camp, and supporting the struggle of the Palestinian people calling for an end to the Israeli occupation by organizing demonstrations against the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) [3] [4] and Christians United for Israel, CUFI. [5]

Witness Against Torture [6] [7] is one of the groups he works with calling for the closure of the Guantanamo prison camp where the United States is holding prisoners as "unlawful enemy combatants". He is involved with the 100 Days Campaign [8] initiated by Witness Against Torture beginning on January 11, 2009 through April 30, 2009.

Prior to his involvement with Washington Peace Center he was actively involved with the DC Anti-War Network, DAWN [9] [10] for several years until the demise of DAWN. [11] He has also participated in working with Northern Virginians for Peace and Justice, [12] [13] [14] Declaration of Peace, and continuing his involvement with the National Campaign for Nonviolent Resistance. [15]

Anti-war protests

Since the invasion and occupation of Iraq, Kilbride has participated in numerous acts of nonviolent civil resistance or civil disobedience risking arrest. [16] He has been arrested many times for these peaceful actions, placed on trial, [17] including one of the largest civil resistance actions ever at the White House in September 2005 with activist and military mother Cindy Sheehan.

On March 29, 2007 he joined a gathering of people inside the United States Hart Senate Office Building speaking out against the Iraq War and occupation in an action called "The Tombstone Action" in which those assembled placed cardboard tombstones in memory of US soldiers and Iraqi civilians killed in Iraq. They read out the names of those who had been killed drawing attention to those killed after the Democrats won control of the US Congress in the November 2006 elections. This demonstration occurred on the same day the US Senate voted for continued funding for the Iraq occupation. He was arrested with Ellen Barfield, Gordon Clark, David Barrows, Eve Tetaz, Joy First, and Sam Crooke. They were subsequently charged with unlawful conduct and received a jury trial in July 2007. They faced up to 6 months imprisonment if found guilty. A jury found them not guilty after they defended themselves pro se in a trial that lasted almost one week in DC Superior Court. [18] [19] [20]

He is serving a one-year unsupervised probation for his conviction of "Unlawful Free Speech" inside the United States Supreme Court. In this most recent action of civil resistance, inside the United States Supreme Court, on January 11, 2008 he called for the closing of the Guantanamo Bay prison camp by kneeling and praying. [21] [22] [23] On January 11, 2009 he began a fast until January 20, 2009 joining others launching the 100 Days Campaign calling for the shut-down of the Guantanamo prison camp.

Quaker activities

He is a Quaker, a member of The Religious Society of Friends, belonging to Friends Meeting of Washington in Washington DC [17] where he serves as clerk of the Peace and Social Concerns Committee in addition to serving on the Peace and Social Concerns Committee of Baltimore Yearly Meeting. [24] [25] [26] In September 2008 he joined the Board of Directors of William Penn House in Washington, DC. [27]

Related Research Articles

The International Solidarity Movement (ISM) is a Palestinian-led movement focused on assisting the Palestinian cause in the Israeli–Palestinian conflict. ISM is dedicated to the use of nonviolent protests and methods only. The organization calls on civilians from around the world to participate in acts of nonviolent protests against the Israeli military in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Protests against the Iraq War</span> Demonstrations by opponents of the Iraq War

Beginning in late 2002 and continuing after the 2003 invasion of Iraq, large-scale protests against the Iraq War were held in many cities worldwide, often coordinated to occur simultaneously around the world. After the biggest series of demonstrations, on February 15, 2003, New York Times writer Patrick Tyler claimed that they showed that there were two superpowers on the planet: the United States and worldwide public opinion.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ramsey Clark</span> 66th United States Attorney General

William Ramsey Clark was an American lawyer, activist, and federal government official. A progressive, New Frontier liberal, he occupied senior positions in the United States Department of Justice under Presidents John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson, serving as United States Attorney General from 1967 to 1969; previously, he was Deputy Attorney General from 1965 to 1967 and Assistant Attorney General from 1961 to 1965.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Medea Benjamin</span> American political activist and author

Medea Benjamin is an American political activist who was the co-founder of Code Pink with Jodie Evans and others. Along with activist and author Kevin Danaher, she created the fair trade advocacy group Global Exchange. Benjamin was the Green Party candidate in California in 2000 for the United States Senate.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Michael Ratner</span> American lawyer (1943–2016)

Michael Ratner was an American attorney. For much of his career, he was president of the Center for Constitutional Rights (CCR), a non-profit human rights litigation organization based in New York City, and president of the European Center for Constitutional and Human Rights (ECCHR) based in Berlin.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cindy Sheehan</span> American antiwar activist

Cindy Lee Sheehan is an American anti-war activist, whose son, U.S. Army Specialist Casey Sheehan, was killed by enemy action during the Iraq War. She attracted national and international media attention in August 2005 for her extended antiwar protest at a makeshift camp outside President George W. Bush's Texas ranch—a stand that drew both passionate support and criticism. Sheehan ran unsuccessfully for Congress in 2008. She was a vocal critic of President Barack Obama's foreign policy. Her memoir, Peace Mom: A Mother's Journey Through Heartache to Activism, was published in 2006. In an interview with The Daily Beast in 2017, Sheehan continued to hold her critical views towards George W. Bush, while also criticizing the militarism of Donald Trump.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Code Pink</span> American non-governmental organization

Code Pink: Women for Peace is a left-wing internationally active 501(c) organization that describes itself as a "grassroots peace and social justice movement working to end U.S.-funded wars and occupations, to challenge militarism globally and to redirect our resources into health care, education, green jobs and other life-affirming activities." In addition to its focus on what the group considers anti-war issues, it has taken action on issues such as drone strikes, the Guantanamo Bay detention camp, Palestinian statehood, the Iran nuclear deal, Saudi Arabia, and Women Cross DMZ.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Protests against the war in Afghanistan</span>

The proposed invasion of Afghanistan prompted protests with mass demonstrations in the days leading up to the official launch of the war on October 7, 2001. The continuation of the war in Afghanistan from 2001 to 2021 lead to further protest and opposition to hostilities.

Extrajudicial prisoners of the United States, in the context of the early twenty-first century War on Terrorism, refers to foreign nationals the United States detains outside of the legal process required within United States legal jurisdiction. In this context, the U.S. government is maintaining torture centers, called black sites, operated by both known and secret intelligence agencies. Such black sites were later confirmed by reports from journalists, investigations, and from men who had been imprisoned and tortured there, and later released after being tortured until the CIA was comfortable they had done nothing wrong, and had nothing to hide.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Frances Crowe</span> American peace activist and pacifist (1919–2019)

Frances Crowe was an American peace activist and pacifist from the Pioneer Valley of Western Massachusetts.

Stephen Zunes is an American international relations scholar specializing in the Middle Eastern politics, U.S. foreign policy, and strategic nonviolent action. He is known internationally as a leading critic of United States policy in the Middle East, particularly under the George W. Bush administration, and an analyst of nonviolent civil insurrections against autocratic regimes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kathy Kelly</span>

Kathy Kelly is an American peace activist, pacifist and author, one of the founding members of Voices in the Wilderness, and, until the campaign closed in 2020, a co-coordinator of Voices for Creative Nonviolence. As part of peace team work in several countries, she has traveled to Iraq twenty-six times, notably remaining in combat zones during the early days of both US–Iraq wars.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Washington Peace Center</span>

The Washington Peace Center was a nonprofit organization founded and located in Washington, D.C., focusing on peace and social justice. It officially closed ceased operating in 2020 after.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eve Tetaz</span> American activist (1931–2023)

Eve Leona Tetaz was an American public school teacher and peace and justice activist from Washington, D.C. She was arrested 11 times in 2007 for nonviolent civil resistance during protests against the war and occupation of Iraq. Tetaz was arrested approximately a dozen times between 2008 and early 2010.

In March 2007, high-profile protests were focused on the Port of Tacoma, in Tacoma, Washington, United States. The protests, which lasted for 11 days, centered on a shipment of Stryker vehicles belonging to the 4th Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division, which were scheduled to ship through the Port of Tacoma to the Iraq War. During the protests, members of Port Militarization Resistance tried to obstruct the shipping operations. A total of 37 protesters were arrested.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">March 19, 2008, anti-war protest</span>

March 19, 2008, being the fifth anniversary of the United States 2003 invasion of Iraq and in protest and demonstration in opposition to the war in Iraq, anti-war protests were held throughout the world including a series of autonomous actions in the United States' capitol, Washington, D.C., in London, Sydney, Australia, and the Scottish city of Glasgow with the latter three being organized by the UK-based Stop the War Coalition. Actions included demonstrations at government buildings and landmarks, protests at military installations and student-led street blockades. The protests were notable, in part, for mostly replacing mass marches with civil disobedience – including religious-focused protests – and for utilizing new technologies to both coordinate actions and interface with traditional print and broadcast media.

Gordon Clark is an American activist and politician. He has served as the National Executive Director of Peace Action, and was a 2008 Green Party candidate from Maryland for the United States House of Representatives in 2008.

Peter Perry is a peace and social justice activist who has been affiliated with the National Campaign for Nonviolent Resistance and the Washington Peace Center.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jodie Evans</span> American activist and filmmaker

Jodie Evans is an American political activist, author, and documentary film producer.

A number of incidents stemming from the September 11 attacks have raised questions about legality.

References

  1. ↑ "About Us | Washington Peace Center". Archived from the original on 2008-12-11. Retrieved 2008-12-26.
  2. ↑ "Ungoodthinkers acquitted". 21 January 2007. Archived from the original on 23 May 2011. Retrieved 26 December 2008.
  3. ↑ "American Chronicle | AIPAC's Gabfest: Israel Lobby Shows off its Power". Archived from the original on 2010-10-06. Retrieved 2008-12-26.
  4. ↑ "OIC Affirms Full Solidarity with Kazakhstan in Preserving National Unity". 7 January 2022. Archived from the original on 20 July 2008. Retrieved 26 December 2008.
  5. ↑ "Peace Groups Target Christians United for Israel Convention". uprisingradio.org. 2008-07-22. Archived from the original on 2011-05-23. Retrieved 2022-07-02.
  6. ↑ "Sentences for 34 Anti Torture Activists | Witness Against Torture". Archived from the original on 2008-11-09. Retrieved 2008-12-26.
  7. ↑ "Protesting torture in front of the CIA". Archived from the original on 2009-01-07. Retrieved 2008-12-26.
  8. ↑ "Close Guantánamo and End Torture". Archived from the original on 2008-12-27. Retrieved 2008-12-26.
  9. ↑ http://www.zmag.org/znet/viewArticle/4240 [ permanent dead link ]
  10. ↑ "China Plus". Archived from the original on 2012-10-16. Retrieved 2008-12-26.
  11. ↑ "Press Action ::: Hungering for Justice at My First Congressional Testimony". Archived from the original on 2008-08-21. Retrieved 2008-12-26.
  12. ↑ "Large, Often Raucous Protests Greet Bush at Second Inaugural - the NewStandard". Archived from the original on 2009-01-06. Retrieved 2008-12-26.
  13. ↑ http://www.unitedforpeace.org/calendar.php?calid=12820 [ permanent dead link ]
  14. ↑ "Northern Virginians for Peace and Justice". Archived from the original on 2008-12-29. Retrieved 2008-12-26.
  15. ↑ ""Indictment day two-for-one" by Waging Peace". Archived from the original on 2009-01-07.
  16. ↑ "Resistance Summary". Archived from the original on 2008-12-03. Retrieved 2008-12-26.
  17. 1 2 "Trial of One of Largest Mass Arrests Protesting Iraq War Begins Friday | Presbyterian Peace Fellowship". Archived from the original on 2010-10-08. Retrieved 2008-12-26.
  18. ↑ "I Was Tried (And Acquitted) for Protesting the Iraq War | War on Iraq | AlterNet". Archived from the original on 2008-07-25. Retrieved 2009-01-02.
  19. ↑ "July 18 - Antiwar activists trial: March 29th 'Hart 7' Found NOT GUILTY (See video of the Action here.) | the Declaration of Peace". Archived from the original on 2009-01-13. Retrieved 2009-01-02.
  20. ↑ Archived at Ghostarchive and the Wayback Machine : Senate Office Building Occupied by Peace Advocates. YouTube .
  21. ↑ "Witness Against Torture: Anti-Guantanamo Activists Released After 30 Hours in Custody". Archived from the original on 2008-04-11. Retrieved 2008-12-26.
  22. ↑ Alexander, Keith L. (May 28, 2008). "Guantanamo Critics Reiterate Protests as Their Trial Opens". The Washington Post . Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2022-07-02.
  23. ↑ "NEW RELEASE! | yellowbikepress.com". Archived from the original on 2008-12-26. Retrieved 2008-12-26.
  24. ↑ Bill Samuel. "Friends United Meeting and the Dually-affiliated Yearly Meetings - QuakerInfo.com" . Retrieved 2022-07-02.
  25. ↑ "Interim Meeting: March 2008". www.bym-rsf.org. Archived from the original on 6 October 2008. Retrieved 12 January 2022.
  26. ↑ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2009-01-24. Retrieved 2008-12-26.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  27. ↑ "WPH Board Members". Archived from the original on 2009-01-31. Retrieved 2009-01-02.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.