Prayers and protests mark Menezes killing anniversary
-22/07/06
Family and friends of J
Prayers and protests mark Menezes killing anniversary
-22/07/06
Family and friends of Jean Charles de Menezes, the innocent Brazilian shot dead by armed police in an anti-terror action at Stockwell tube station in London, today (22 July 2006) marked the first anniversary of the tragic event with respectful vigils near the place he died.
Relatives of Jean Charles, a number of whom are devout Catholics, joined hands to pray on the underground platform where he boarded a train, before being shot repeatedly. A memorial plaque has also been unveiled, and floral tributes were laid.
The Menezes action group, which is still considering a private prosecution against the police, after the official enquiry found insufficient evidence for a Crown action, had originally called for the public to join the protests.
But when they discovered that there would be marches in Britain today ñ particularly in London ñ for peace in the Middle East (especially Iraq and Lebanon), they decided that it would be better to urge people to join that demonstration.
A spokesperson explained that Jean Charles de Menezes, who was wrongly mistaken by police for a terror suspect on the day of several thwarted bomb plots in the capital, was a man of peace.
ìHe would have chosen to join the demonstrations for Middle East peace today, and that is where we hope people who want to remember him will goî, a group member declared.
Mr de Menezes was killed as part of a controversial police ëshoot-to-killí approach, which is still in place.
Last year the Anglican Bishop of Southwark, the Rt Rev Tom Butler, said that there were circumstances involving major threats to life where such a policy could be justified.
But his remarks were rejected by other faith leaders, church representatives and Christian peace campaigners, who argue that such shooting make the public less, not more, secure.
[Also on Ekklesia: Church hosts media conference for Muslim terror raid brothers; New evidence in Stockwell shooting shocks critics; Muslims are concerned at UK anti-terror tactics; Religious leaders call for action after shooting of innocent man; Church report backs shoot-to-kill policy; Who would Jesus shoot-to-kill, bishop asked?]
Prayers and protests mark Menezes killing anniversary
-22/07/06
Family and friends of Jean Charles de Menezes, the innocent Brazilian shot dead by armed police in an anti-terror action at Stockwell tube station in London, today (22 July 2006) marked the first anniversary of the tragic event with respectful vigils near the place he died.
Relatives of Jean Charles, a number of whom are devout Catholics, joined hands to pray on the underground platform where he boarded a train, before being shot repeatedly. A memorial plaque has also been unveiled, and floral tributes were laid.
The Menezes action group, which is still considering a private prosecution against the police, after the official enquiry found insufficient evidence for a Crown action, had originally called for the public to join the protests.
But when they discovered that there would be marches in Britain today ñ particularly in London ñ for peace in the Middle East (especially Iraq and Lebanon), they decided that it would be better to urge people to join that demonstration.
A spokesperson explained that Jean Charles de Menezes, who was wrongly mistaken by police for a terror suspect on the day of several thwarted bomb plots in the capital, was a man of peace.
ìHe would have chosen to join the demonstrations for Middle East peace today, and that is where we hope people who want to remember him will goî, a group member declared.
Mr de Menezes was killed as part of a controversial police ëshoot-to-killí approach, which is still in place.
Last year the Anglican Bishop of Southwark, the Rt Rev Tom Butler, said that there were circumstances involving major threats to life where such a policy could be justified.
But his remarks were rejected by other faith leaders, church representatives and Christian peace campaigners, who argue that such shooting make the public less, not more, secure.
[Also on Ekklesia: Church hosts media conference for Muslim terror raid brothers; New evidence in Stockwell shooting shocks critics; Muslims are concerned at UK anti-terror tactics; Religious leaders call for action after shooting of innocent man; Church report backs shoot-to-kill policy; Who would Jesus shoot-to-kill, bishop asked?]