“Brian Haw (1949-2011) was one of the most visible, influential, determined and adhesive peace campaigners of our times. In June 2001, he began a peace protest at Parliament Square in Westminster, where he remained for nearly ten years.” Actor and campaigner Mark Rylance writes about him for the Big Issue.

A Crowdfunder has been set up to fund the installation of a small statue of Brian, facing the Imperial War Museum in Lambeth, creating a permanent symbol of protest for peace – you can support the Crowdfunder here

“Brian Haw maintained a noisy presence at Westminster, camped on the grass directly outside the Houses of Parliament. Initially inspired by the war in Iraq and UK and US foreign policy […] his peace campaign was joined by the likes of the Stop the War coalition, whose 2003 march through London against the Iraq war brought two million people to the city’s streets.

In spite of many attempts to curtail and quieten his protest and have him moved and removed, Brian Haw’s personal conviction to raise awareness of human suffering due to war saw him remain at Westminster until just a few months before his death in 2011.

To honour the personal sacrifice of Brian Haw in the name of peace, a group of supporters and friends, including fellow campaigner Michael Culver and actor Mark Rylance, has formed to create a permanent reminder of his work and character. They are appealing to members of the public to contribute £1, or more, in order to raise the £50,000 required to cover the costs of the creation and installation of the statue.

The 78cm high statue, sculpted by artist Amanda Ward, will sit within an exterior alcove on the School of Historical Dress at 52 Lambeth Road, just outside the exclusion zone created in 2005 in an attempt by authorities to move Brian away from the seat of government.”

Text here taken from the Brian Haw memorial Crowdfunder page.

Image of Brian Haw (c) Richard Wolff