Posted by Jim on July 16, 2016
1916 Societies NYC are pleased to learn that the Ancient Order of Hibernians, an important organization within the Irish Diaspora in the United States, has unanimously endorsed a resolution put to their National Convention in Atlantic City on July 14th, welcoming and lending support to our ‘One Ireland One Vote’ initiative.
‘One Ireland One Vote’ is the flagship campaign of the 1916 Societies – an Irish separatist movement of whom we are an affiliate. It calls for an All-Ireland Referendum on Irish Unity, that an Independent and 32-County Irish Republic might proceed from an end to partition rule in Ireland.
Following months of discussion with and within the broad Irish-American community, beginning with our own formation less than a year ago and developing from there, this represents an exciting development for both ourselves in New York and our friends and colleagues back home in Ireland.
Our vision for a ‘New All-Ireland Republic’ is now gaining traction among the Irish Diaspora, something we are immensely proud of given the connections that have long existed between Irish America and the Republican Movement, connections we know to be of utmost importance to the cause of Irish Independence.
Moving forward, republicanism and its hopes for a united and free Ireland, while faced with massive challenges, yes, finds itself in a position whereby a changing world brings new opportunities.
In that context, we consider that our ‘One Ireland One Vote’ proposal offers an effective platform to press ahead and maximize those same opportunities, holding likewise that the endorsement by the AOH is a significant development towards that end, as the campaign for Irish Independence enters what we hope will prove its final phase.
For further information on the New York 1916 Societies and our ‘One Ireland One Vote’ campaign please contact us at the address and telephone number below. Information on the broader 1916 Societies and their developing project can be found on their website:
1916societies.com.
1916 Societies-NYC
244 Fifth Avenue
Suite K-205
New York, New York 10001
212-726-2112
Posted by Jim on
The PSNI police has washed its hands over a series of hate crimes and
other offences at this year’s loyalist ‘Eleventh Night’ bonfires,
calling for “consultation and dialogue” instead of bringing charges
against loyalists.
More than 300 bonfires were lit on Monday night ahead of the Twelfth of
July, the annual Protestant celebration of a historic battle victory
over Catholics.
There was once again a controversy over the display of racist,
paramilitary and sectarian slogans, the burning of election posters of
nationalist politicians and the burning of Irish tricolours and other
flags.
In the most serious incident, a row of terraced houses in the Shankill
area of west Belfast were gutted after a nearby bonfire spread onto the
roofs.
Sinn Fein’s John O’Dowd, whose posters were among those burned on a
bonfire in Portadown which had been billed as a “children’s fun day”,
wrote: “What message does it send out to young people that it is
acceptable to burn images of elected representatives?” The Upper Bann
Assembly member reported the incident to the PSNI as both theft of
election posters and a hate crime.
Michaela Boyle, a Sinn Fein Assembly member of West Tyrone, said she
felt “sadness” at seeing her election posters on a bonfire in
Artigarvan, near Strabane. She said political representative from all
parties needed to “speak out against all forms of hate crime, no matter
how and where it raises its head”.
Sinn Fein’s Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness said “intervention”
on bonfires was now overdue. He tweeted: “Respecting PSNI independence
and judgement on how to deal with these hate crimes, past time when
intervention required.”
But the Assistant PSNI Chief Stephen Martin dismissed these concerns.
“The best way to improve the situation is through consultation; through
dialogue and through partnership,” he said.
He said burning of Sinn Fein councillors on election posters amounted
merely to “theft of paper” and admitted that the PSNI would not take on
the paramilitaries involved.
“Whilst putting an election poster on a bonfire might be very
distressful to the person whose image is on it and the political party
involved might hold very strong feelings about it – the offence in
reality is likely to be the theft of a piece of paper,” he said.
“In considering enforcement action, I have to think about.. the risk
that police intervening would create increased tension and risk of
disorder.”
Unionist politicians were equally dismissive. The DUP’s Edwin Poots even
took a selfie at bonfire in Ballymacash that had been bedecked in
tricolours which were burned. He said he “really couldn’t care less”
about criticism.
And the new DUP ‘communities minister’ Paul Givan posed for photos as he
set stacks of pallets alight in County Tyrone, and refused to comment
afterwards. John O’Dowd branded the picture by Mr Poots “completely
inappropriate”, and also said Mr Givan should be “setting an example as
a minister”.
Posted by Jim on July 12, 2016
There were confrontations this morning as sectarian parades were forced
through Catholic communities following a night in which bonfires were
lit to herald the day of loyalist aggression.
The Ardoyne march is one of the more controversial of hundreds of
‘feeder parades’ taking place today, when Protestants ‘celebrate’ the
anniversary of a 17th century battle victory over Catholics with
coat-trailing events.
Nationalist residents protesting at Ardoyne shops were hemmed in by
police as they moved in to control the area before the Orange parade
passed through. Directing a huge police deployment was the PSNI Chief
Constable George Hamilton, who himself became the focus of protests by
residents as they shouted about the force’s involvement in the murder
of nationalists.
As the parade passed through, there were shouts of ‘walk of shame’, but
no disorder. There was also a protest in west Belfast this morning as
another Orange parade passed through a nationalist area at Workman
Avenue and the Springfield Road, but again without serious incident.
A second round of parades takes place this evening, although some of
the most controversial ‘return’ marches have been rerouted by the
Parades Commission, which is tasked with adjudicating on parade routes.
Last night, there were disturbing scenes as ‘Eleventh Night’ bonfires
were lit. In the most serious incident, a row of terraced houses caught
fire close to one of the larger loyalist bonfires in Belfast. Two homes
adjacent to the Hopewell Square bonfire in Belfast’s Shankill Road were
gutted when a blaze broke out on the roofs of the terrace at around
1am. Other houses were damaged.
At Cluan Place in east Belfast, endangered properties had to be hosed
down as it appeared fire was taking hold.
In total, firefighters had to actively intervene at 16 bonfires across
the North. As well as Belfast, there were bonfire-related emergencies
in Bangor, Coleraine, Banbridge, Rathfriland, Dungannon, Derry City,
Portadown, Ballyhalbert and Limavady.
Despite the efforts of politicians to improve their image, there were
again countless hate crimes and sectarian incidents at the bonfires,
including the burning of election posters and nationalist flags. Many
complaints this year centred on the increased use of toxic tyres, as
well as the usual proximity of the pyres to homes, businesses and
community areas.
While Sinn Fein has supported the grant funding by local councils of
bonfires, posters of party councillors again appeared on several,
alongside sectarian insults and threats of violence.
Derry councillor Patricia Logue today called for an end to all actions
which foster division. “There must be a zero tolerance against all
forms of hate crimes, racism, sectarianism, and those who seek to
promote sectarian division,” she said.
Sinn Fein Assembly member John O’Dowd said that the burning of election
posters and Irish tricolours is “unacceptable” and “should be
investigated”.
Stolen election posters belonging to himself and party colleague
Catherine Seeley were burned on bonfires in Portadown.
“The event as I understand was billed as a children’s fun day,” he
said. “It is totally unacceptable that these stolen posters appeared on
the bonfire, especially in the context of an event which was supposed
to be a children’s fun day, what message does the burning of images of
elected representatives send out to children?
“Election material, poster and billboards belonging to all political
parties should be treated with respect.
“The posters burnt were stolen during the election campaign and were
reported as such. This incident and the burning of posters and flags at
the main bonfire later in the evening have been reported to the Police
as theft and a hate crime.”
Posted by Jim on July 11, 2016
British Prime Minister David Cameron has revealed he will officially
step down on Wednesday, months ahead of schedule. His announcement came
after it emerged his replacement will be Home Secretary Theresa May,
whose last rival for the leadership of the Conservative Party dropped
out this morning.
Cameron said he quit after Prime Minister’s Questions on July 13, and
May will then become Prime Minister on Wednesday evening.
Although Theresa May is a controversial figure who has modelled herself
on Margaret Thatcher, her advancement will be preferred in Ireland
against the more extreme candidates for the post, Michael Gove and
Andrea Leadsom.
However, she is a supporter of austerity which continues to increase
deprivation in the north of Ireland. She has consistently opposed the
Human Rights Act and the European Convention on Human Rights.
As Home Secretary, she’s been an authoritarian ‘securocrat’ who has
championed greater surveillance powers which have led to Britain being
described as a surveillance state.
Despite mutterings of reform, she has presided over draconian ‘stop and
search’ legislation which is routinely used to harass and oppress
Catholics in the north of Ireland. She has also been pushing an
“extremism bill”, based on a definition of extremism that she herself
has been unable to define.
At the Home Office, she has promoted anti-immigrant propaganda, while
her own immigration policies have failed dramatically. Her refusal this
week to guarantee EU nationals’ the right to stay in Britain displayed
a new level of extremist zeal.
Tory veteran Ken Clarke made unguarded remarks recently about her being
a “bloody difficult woman”, while colleagues have described as being
unpleasant to work with — but that she will usually “do a deal in the
end”.
Her rapid transition to becoming British Prime Minister gives very
little time for her to prepare for a massive agenda which involves. As
a first step, she will manage the British exit from the European Union.
She will then be presented with an independence referendum in Scotland,
which now appears almost certain to pass, as well as irresistible
pressure to end the obsolete Union with the north of Ireland and Wales.
Her performance over the next weeks and months will be closely watched
as an important indicator of the future direction of Anglo-Irish
politics.
Posted by Jim on
