Posted by Jim on February 8, 2019
PLAQUE DEDICATION
On Friday, March 8, 2019, at 1100 hours, a WTC Plaque Dedication Ceremony will be held honoring the memory of Firefighter Paul R. Tokarski, Ladder 164. The dedication will take place in the Quarters of Engine 313 & Ladder 164, 44-01 244th Street, Queens, NY. All off-duty members and their families are invited to attend. Members are requested to attend in dress uniform.
BATTLE OF THE FIREHOUSE BANDS
On Saturday, March 2, the 5th Annual NYC Memorial Stair Climb Fundraising Night will host Battle of the Firehouse Bands. This year’s memorial climb will be held on Saturday, May 4, at 3 WTC and is supporting A Soldier’s Journey Home www.asoldiersjourneyhome.org. For more information visit www.NYCStairClimb.com or contact Chris Barber, L-22, at 646-373-1324.
SILVER SHIELD COLLEGE AWARD
The Silver Shield Foundation is honoring the service of uniformed members of the FDNY to the New York Community by awarding one member’s college-bound daughter or son – chosen by lottery – a college scholarship in the amount of $5000, renewable annually for up to four years. To be eligible, a student must be the natural or adopted child of an FDNY member currently serving as a Firefighter, Fire Officer EMT, Paramedic, EMS Officer, Wiper, Engineer, Pilot, Fire Marshal or Supervising Fire Marshal. Grandchildren and step-children are not eligible. The children of retirees, deceased members or civilians (including Fire Prevention) are not eligible. The student must have graduated from an accredited high school in the current year (2019) and be accepted at an accredited four-year college to matriculate in the summer or fall of 2019. The scholarship winner will be chosen by lottery. To be considered, the student should write: His/her first, middle and last name; Name of high school and graduation date; Name of college and start date; Name of FDNY parent on a piece of paper and sign the page. The paper should be sealed in a plain white envelope with no address or markings. It should be enclosed in another envelope addressed to: Evelyn Tesoriero, Assistant Commissioner, Family Assistance Unit, Rm. 8S-10, 9 MetroTech Center Brooklyn, NY 11201. Write the parent’s FDNY reference number across the seal of the outer envelope. Only one entry will be accepted per child. Envelopes must be received by March 11, 2019. For additional information, email Evelyn.Tesoriero@fdny.nyc.gov or call 718-999-0405.
Posted by Jim on February 2, 2019
“Those
knowledgeable about the Black Freedom Struggle in America and with the struggle
for justice in Ireland —and in The North/Northern Ireland since the 1920 Partition of Ireland— will recognize
the significance of the Labor
Force Survey Report as recounted in the attached article from today’s
Irish News, February 1, 2019, Belfast.
‘ The
number of Catholics and Protestants of working age is almost the same for
the first time as Northern Ireland’s population changes continue.
The number of Protestants has declined by 14 percentage points to
42 percent, while the number of Catholics is up to 41 percent. People
who define themselves as ‘other/non-determined’ has increased from 6
percent to 17 percent over the same period.
The statistics are revealed in the latest Labor Force Survey Report, which
examines the labor market differences of the two main
religions, including unemployment rates and levels of economic activity
from 1990 to 2017.With estimates suggesting that Catholics will outnumber
Protestants in the total population by 2021…’
The artificial State of
Northern Ireland was created by England’s
1920 ‘Government of
Ireland Act’ (Scotland and Wales can hardly be blamed). It was an outrageous
gerrymander, based on a nakedly anti-Catholic, sectarian headcount.
The word gerrymander
provides an immediate nexus with the United States because it was first coined
in Massachusetts in the early 19th Century. And, of course, it makes an obvious
connection to how Blacks had to struggle against the rigging of electoral boundaries in the US to keep them from
gaining the power necessary for equality.
Who in today’s America could
assert (at least publicly) that it is bad for African Americans and other
people of color to overcome gerrymandered political entities? Can people of
color be blamed for being pleased they are overcoming contrived, structural
injustice and discrimination—structures that Pope John Paul called ‘structures
of sin.’?
Yet, there is a
distorted and twisted ideology by some in Ireland —inevitably picked up by a
few Irish-Americans lacking knowledge of both Irish and British history— which asserts that it is somehow wrong for Catholics/Nationalists/Republicans
to want to overcome their disenfranchisement
and contrived marginalization… that it is wrong to be relieved that democracy
and equality is pending for the whole
island of Ireland.
For example, it has been asserted
(behind my back, of course) that I should stop ‘harping’ about the historic
mistreatment of Catholics in Northern Ireland … like telling
African-Americans, Hispanics, women, and other unfairly marginalized groups in
the US to stop talking about fairness and equality. Can anything be more
stupid? It’s like White Supremacists saying: ‘It is OK for us to establish
supremacy, but it is unreasonable for people of color to seek equality, to quit sitting at
the back of the bus.’
The re-unification of Ireland is in inevitable,
made more obvious by Brexit. In the meantime, the Beloved community must be
built up in Northern Ireland/The North. Equality, solidarity, unity, and peace
are not a threat to anyone— just ‘liberty and justice for all.’” Fr. Sean McManus.Almost equal numbers of Catholics and Protestants in Northern Ireland of working age for the first time
The report examines the labour market differences of the two religions in Northern Ireland, including unemployment rates and levels of economic activity.
Suzanne McGonagle.Irish News. Belfast. Friday, February 1, 2019
The number of Catholics and Protestants of working age is almost the same for the first time as Northern Ireland’s population changes continue.
The number of Protestants has declined by 14 percentage points to 42 percent, while the number of Catholics is up to 41 percent. People who define themselves as ‘other/non-determined’ has increase from 6 percent to 17 percent over the same period.
The statistics are revealed in the latest Labour Force Survey Report, which examines the labour market differences of the two main religions, including unemployment rates and levels of economic activity from 1990 to 2017.
With estimates suggesting that Catholics will outnumber Protestants in the total population by 2021, politics professor John Coakley cautioned that the new figures do not automatically point to a majority in favour of a United Ireland.
Historically the Catholic community experienced a higher unemployment rate than the Protestant community, however over the past 15 years that gap has gradually narrowed.
In 1992, 69 per cent of working age Protestants and 54 per cent of Catholics were in employment.
But by 2017, the number of Catholics in employment has rise to 67 per cent, but working age Protestants only increased to 70 per cent.
In 1992, 76 per cent of working age Protestants were economically active, compared with 66 per cent Catholics. Fifteen years later there is more of a similar picture in both communities with 73 per cent Protestants and 70 per cent Catholics economically active.
Unemployment rates for both communities are now the exact same following years of higher levels of unemployment for Catholics.
Over the same period the unemployment rate has moved from nine per cent for Protestants and 18 per cent for Catholics to four per cent for both.
The number of people reporting as “other/non-determined” has more than doubled over the 15-year period – from six per cent to 17 per cent.
Professor Coakley, of Queen’s University Belfast, said “it would be dangerous to jump to any political conclusions on the basis of these demographic developments.”
“Until the effects of the uncertainties associated with Brexit began to be felt, opinion polls and surveys showed sizeable Catholic support for the Union – not confined to Alliance and SDLP supporters, but including also a cluster of Sinn Féin supporters. For this reason, it would take a major shift in Catholic opinion for the Union to be endangered. But this is where the instability caused by Brexit may have unexpected consequences,” he said.
Posted by Jim on
A crowd of thousands took to the streets in this year’s annual Bloody
Sunday march in Derry, supported by a range of republican and civil
rights and justice groups.
They were there to mark the day 13 people were shot dead by members of
the Paratroop Regiment during a civil rights demonstration in the city’s
Bogside on January 30, 1972. A 14th man died later from his injuries.
Thousands of people, accompanied by several republican bands, weaved
their way down through the streets of Creggan and into the Bogside,
retracing the steps of the original march.
Organisers said they want the top British officials behind Bloody Sunday
– including top-ranking General Michael Jackson – put behind bars.
Former MP Bernadette McAliskey, who was one of the organisers of the
march on 30 January 1972, said the families of those killed by British
paratroopers are still waiting for prosecutions against the soldiers
involved.
Ms McAliskey told the gathered crowd that she will campaign until her
last breath “to see Jackson, the British Army, the British government
and the British state in the Court of Justice at the Hague”.
The families learnt a few weeks ago of the death of Soldier N, who was
among 18 soldiers being considered for prosecution by the Public
Prosecution Service in connection with the attack.
“In regard to the prosecution of those soldiers, we are not moving
forward more than an inch at the time. ‘Soldier N’ has died. Family
members are dying,” said Ms McAliskey.
Kate Nash, who lost her teenage brother William on Bloody Sunday, told
the crowd those behind the killings need to face court. “My brother was
innocent of any wrongdoing. The perpetrators need to go to court and
they need to face trial for what they did that day. He deserves it. We
are all entitled to justice,” she said.
The death of ‘Soldier N’ also raises questions for the PSNI police, said
‘Sunday’ survivor Michael Bridge.
“The only people this benefits is the PSNI,” he said, speaking in
advance of the march. “There are certain questions that need to be asked
now. There has been an investigation going on now for eight years.
“They have been investigating the conclusions of Saville which were that
in total, 28 people were shot. It was a crime, a very serious crime. So,
who is responsible for the delay in deciding on prosecutions?
“The delay has been so long we have to ask if they are actually
questioning Saville’s assertions that Bloody Sunday actually happened.
Who is taking responsibility for them (the soldiers) not being
prosecuted for perjury?”
Posted by Jim on
The new all-Ireland political party being led by Peadar Tóibín this week
revealed its new name as Aontú, the Irish for unity or consent. In this
statement written for the centenary of the First Dáil in 1919, Mr Tóibín
set out his republican vision for the party.
On 21st January 1919, the elected representatives of the Irish people
met to enact the democratic will of the Irish people. This simple act of
democracy was the culmination of centuries of struggle and sacrifice. In
every generation for hundreds of years democracy was prevented by the
British state by violence or the threat of violence. Indeed the new All
Ireland democratic assembly would soon become outlawed and suppressed by
the most powerful empire ever known.
The purpose of the first Dáil was to bring to fruition the legacy of the
1916 Rising, the United Irishmen and the Young Irelanders, and make a
reality of the Irish people’s inalienable right to national freedom. The
first Dáil was secured by a colossal victory in the 1918 General
Election. 73 out of 105 seats were won by Irish republicans. The Irish
people mandated the ratification of the Irish Republic, All Ireland
independence and a functioning, self-governing nation.
100 years on its easy to underestimate the magnitude of their
achievement. This was one of the weakest generations that Ireland had
ever seen. They came not long after the famine where 1.5 million Irish
people lost their lives and 1.5 million people were forced to emigrate.
They learned a hard lesson that if decisions were made in London for any
part of Ireland that those decisions would never me made on our behalf.
They would never be made for our best interests and indeed they would at
times lead to the destruction of our people.
The Union Jack flew over every town in Ireland. It had flown in some
iteration in these towns for more than 500 years. It stood for the
largest empire the world had ever seen. Yet these men and women, the
weakest generation for hundreds of years, risked life and limb to
challenge that empire to seek our freedom and self-determination.
And for a significant part of our country their actions led to
self-determination. However it’s hard to believe that 100 years later,
our economy, our lives, our ability to progress as a nation is still
determined by the whims and egos of the Tory Party in London.
The Tory Party know nothing of our country and they care even less. A
couple of years ago the people of the north democratically decided to
remain in the EU. Yet that determination has been pegged in the bin by
the Tories. We were told that consent is at the heart of the Good Friday
Agreement and the peace on our island. Yet 100 years after the first
Dáil, that consent, that self determination still means nothing to the
Tories in London.
This year is the 100th anniversary of the first military action by the IRA
at Soloheadbeg, Tipperary where the Volunteers ambushed Royal Irish
Constabulary (RIC) officers who were escorting a consignment of
gelignite explosive. The two RIC officers lost their lives in that
action. All loss of life is a human tragedy and the families of those
who lost their lives on both sides of the Tan War/War of Independence
have a right to remember their loved ones in their own way.
However its important to be clear, there is no equivalence between the
British Military in 1919 who imposed oppression and suppressed democracy
through violence or the threat of violence and those Irish Volunteers
who struggled and risked everything for Irish freedom and
self-determination.
This type of equivocation has become the narrative of the new Fianna
Fáil and Fine Gael leadership. Indeed Lisa Chambers stated this weekend
that Fianna Fáil are “not celebrating” the momentous actions of 100
years ago, that “we need to be fair to all sides”. It always amazes me
that that those who want to be Ministers in Ireland seek to downgrade
those who fought for their right to be Ministers in an Irish Government.
It’s a struggle to think of other countries where the dominant political
view among the political elites is that their country’s freedom and the
necessary sacrifice that was made to achieve it was an ambiguous thing.
In which other country is equal respect given to the actions of those
who fought for freedom and the colonisers and the foreign occupation
forces. In which other country is this view considered a politically
beneficial position to hold.
There are three political traditions living in Ireland north and south.
One seeks to achieve full Irish Independence and one seeks to maintain
the union of the north with Britain. We need to reach out to and engage
with people of a Unionist tradition. I believe in this 100%. We need to
engage respectfully and set out our stall highlighting out full Irish
Independence will benefit their needs and objectives.
Brexit has radically accelerated this process. Many people of the
traditional unionist community in the north are reappraising their
loyalty to London given the Tories clear disdain for their democratic
wishes. The economic cliff that is Brexit has also awoken amongst many
from the traditionally unionist community the needs for
self-determination.
Brexit and the cost of the border has also awoken many in the south of
Ireland to the cost of the border. Many in the south recognize the
serious risk that exists leaving our ability to trade, do business,
travel and farm on the island of Ireland to be significantly influenced
by Theresa May and Boris Johnson.
Reaching out to other people does not mean denying who you are yourself
or denying your past. Real reconciliation happens when people are true
to themselves and their own identity and agree to make space for each
other’s identity.
Republicanism is a pluralist political objective. Pluralism is not about
forced convergence or uniformity. The Irish Republic should not be about
deleting difference and diversity. It should be about allowing that
diversity to flourish without fear or favour. The Republicanism of 1798,
of 1916 and 1918 is about the unity of differences, the unity of
Catholic, Protestant and Dissenter.
A central objective of our new All Ireland Movement is the peaceful
unity of the Irish people, the peaceful unity of the Green and the
Orange.
I said that there are three political traditions in Ireland. The third
is that of the political establishment. Many parties in the south will
talk the talk about the objectives and the ideals of the First Dáil.
They will sidle up for the photos and make very serious speeches.
But FF and FG will not do anything ever to dilute their power. In many
ways they rely on the border for their own political power. If the
border were to be removed today they would change from parties of power
and government to small regional parties. They will do their best to
prevent this.
Let us proudly celebrate the heroic efforts of those who founded and
built our national democratic first Dáil and remember that true
commemoration is the completion of its objectives.
Posted by Jim on
Four Derry men wrongly accused of killing a British soldier have
accepted an out-of-court settlement from the PSNI after four decades of
fighting for the truth about police brutality, threats and a shocking
conspiracy to pursue a miscarriage of justice.
The men, known as the ‘Derry Four’, were accused of an attack which
killed British Army Lieutenant Steven Kirby in February 1979. Gerry
Kelly, Gerry McGowan, Michael Toner and Stephen Crumlish were all aged
17 at the time.
They fled across the border when it became clear they were going to be
convicted despite protesting their innocence. In 1998, all charges
against the men were dropped and they were able to return north.
PSNI Assistant Chief Constable George Clarke said this week that police
“acknowledge there were significant shortcomings in the treatment of the
men involved in this case and we recognise the distress that this has
caused them”.
The four teenagers, all from Circular Road in Creggan, have spent four
decades maintaining their innocence.
At the time of the arrests, the four were detained at Strand Road PSNI
(then RUC) barracks for three day, and were denied access to lawyers,
legal advice and their families. They were subjected to intense physical
and verbal abuse by the RUC men who interrogated them. As a result of
the treatment they received at the hands of the police they signed false
confessions.
As the trial of the four young men approached great efforts were made in
Derry to halt the false prosecutions. But two days into the proceedings
the four received advice that because of the nature of Diplock Courts
with judges sitting without juries, their defence was pointless. Next
day, the men left Derry and headed across the border and to a life in
exile.
A long and arduous campaign for justice unearthed evidence of tampered
statements, police brutality, and contining police threats against the
families, as well as an overwhelming amount of exculpatory evidence. But
it was only in December, 1998 that the Director of Public Prosecutions
confirmed in writing there would be no prosecution, on any charge,
against any of the four.
In 1999, the acquittal was followed by an other directive that there
would be no prosecution in relation to the four men leaving Ireland
during their 1980 trial.
“The 1998 acquittals simply confirmed publicly that and without doubt
the innocence of my clients. What they did not have however was the
truth about how this miscarriage of justice had occurred or had been
allowed to occur. They have now spent another 20 years searching for
that truth,” said their lawyer Patricia Coyle.
At an announcement in Derry on Tuesday Paul O’Connor from the Pat
Finucane Centre said justice delayed was justice denied, and that
members of the RUC had escaped sanction or prosecution for their
actions.
“It beggars belief that it was in 2003 that we had our first meeting
with the Police Ombusdman here in Derry where we lodged a complaint
about the actions of the RUC during the arrest of these four
individuals,” he said. “It’s 2019. We still don’t have a final report.”
Gerry McGowan had been offered professional terms with Leicester City FC
when he was falsely accused. It not only ended his dreams of being a
professional footballer saw him embark on a 40 year campaign to clear
his name and those of his friends.
On Tuesday in his home place of Creggan, a place he and his co-accused
had been forced to flee, an at times emotional Mr McGowan read out a
statement on behalf of the ‘Derry 4’.
The statement said: “On behalf of the Derry Four we would like to thank
our solicitor Patricia Coyle and those at Harte, Coyle Collins who have
been with us since 1998 and helped secured our acquittal 20 years ago.
“We would like to thank Paul O’Connor and Sara Duddy from the Pat
Finucane Centre, and all their colleagues over the years who have
supported us.
“We thank our families who have endured this painful injustice with us
over the past forty years. They have stood by us throughout, and we
remember our loved ones who are not here today.
“We have endured a number of dark days over the past forty years. It has
taken it toll on our health and our families, but we are now looking
forward.
“This compensation will not undo the years of hurt and pain inflicted on
us and our families, however it allows us to look to the future and we
feel some sense of closure that the State is finally acknowledging their
wrongdoing.
“Finally we would like to thank the people of Derry who have stood by us
over the past forty years, and never doubted our innocence.”