Hundreds in prayer vigil outside DSEI Arms Fair

Faith groups line perimeter fence at DSEI Arms Fair

On Monday, on the eve of the opening of the DSEI Arms Fair in London, a silent candle-lit vigil was organised by Pax Christi EW, Quaker Peace and Social Witness and Quaker Roots.

Given all the restrictions, difficulties in travel and fears about meeting up, we thought that it would be very good if 50 people turned up. Meeting at Royal Victoria Station, we were amazed at the numbers that just kept coming. A wonderful, bubbly, meeting of so many peace activists who had not seen each other for such a long time. So many peace groups were represented, with people travelling from all over the country, many making very long journeys to take part. We knew too, that so many of our members and members of religious communities, who could not travel, were spending the time at home, in solidarity with us.

Banners were unfurled and placards put around necks or carried, with statements from Pope Francis and other religious leaders, quotes from scripture and suggestions as to how our money would be better spent on things we really need.

Having, with the help of our police escorts, sorted out the blip that we were not going to be let into the designated area for the vigil, we set off, following the banners,in a long procession, walking through the local streets to the site of the Arms Fair in East London.

On arrival, we were met by a team of security staff, with the approach area in front of the the ExCeL Centre, barricaded off and being very strictly monitored. While we waited to be let in, besuited and military uniformed men were leaving the centre and were carefully separated from us by the metal barricades that made channels for comings and goings.

We waited patiently, for quite a while, for a channel to be opened for us to go in. Police and security communicating with the organisers all the time. Then came the decision that only one hundred would be admitted. Going in, in single file and being individually counted, reminded me, and the others who have served with EAPPI, of being at Israeli checkpoints in Palestine. Then, 100 were in and there were so many more waiting. The Chief Security guard tried so hard to get the rest of us in, but no matter what he said, the anonymous, impersonal voice on the radio adamantly refused. There was frustration and disappointment in those still outside but once we had established that there was nothing to be done to change the decision, there was a movement in the gatherings, on both sides of the fence.

Gently and quietly semi-circles emerged facing each other on both sides. Two hundred worshippers became a full circle, divided by a chain-link fence. Candles were lit and we stilled ourselves for our time together, beside the river and in front of the brightly illuminated ExCeL Exhibition Centre. For a short while at the beginning, each of the organisers read a statement, saying why we were there, protesting against the deadly weapons being displayed and sold in the centre, that had been, not very long ago, a Nightingale Hospital, and telling personal stories of those who suffered the terrible consequences of the weapons bought and sold by arms traders.

As the light faded, the Centre looked brighter, the moon was rising between the silhouettes of the cranes on the dockside and our small candles lit our silent circle. Two hundred peacemakers gathered together in silent worship, in the belief that the arms trade is immoral and that both the trade and the fairs must be stopped.

It is impossible to describe the intensity and powerfulness of that gathered silence and of being in that circle of silence, facing each other through the barrier of a chain link fence. To one side the security staff stood in silence. Behind us, a row of police stood in silence. A silence that grew and deepened as darkness descended.

Our vigil finished and two hundred of us dispersed so quietly that it was clear that we had all been deeply affected by our time together and knowing that something important had happened. Being divided had made it all so much more powerful as we reflected on the reality of the divisions caused by the arms trade. Thank you to everyone who came, to a vigil we will not forget.

Ann Farr is Chair of Pax Christi England and Wales