Ógra Shinn Féin Remember the 1981 Hungerstrikers

[Ógra A]

Ógra Shinn Féin Remember the 1981 Hungerstrikers


On Wednesday 1st March Ógra Shinn Féin activists through-out Ireland will take to the streets to mark the date Bobby Sands began hungerstrike 25 years ago. A range of events to be held will include vigils and torch lit processions in Ómagh and Dromore Co. Tyrone and Derry. A blanket protest will be enacted outside Belfast City Hall at 1PM and the National Hungerstrike exhibition will be on display in Dundalk IT.

Mickey Bravender Ógra national organiser commented “25 years ago on 1st March 1981 IRA prisoner Bobby Sands refused food in protest at attempts by Maggie Thatcher and the Brits to criminalise the republican struggle. By October 1981 ten young men would die and we must remind people today of their selfless desire to defeat crimalisation attempts by the british government and commitment to advancing the struggle for freedom. The aims for which these ten brave men gave their lives are still being fought for today and young republicans are constantly inspired by the sacrifice of these ten brave men in 1981. Our message is today is we would not be criminalised in 1981 and we will not be criminalised today 25 years on.”
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[Mr. Right]

What was the name of they hunger-striker they found with a box of mars bars? what was his fate?

[Johnny]

When injustice becomes law
Resistance becomes duty.

Isn't that a maxim of Islam? (straight from the Holy Quran if I'm not mistaking.) Not trying to be smart with you. Just curious if that's where you got it from.

[cyberianpan]

Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams was today joined by former Long Kesh O/Cs Brendan McFarlane and Seando Moore for the launch of a commemorative candle to remember the 25th Anniversary of the 1981 Hunger Strike.

Speaking at the launch at the Roddy McCorley Club in Belfast, Bik McFarlane urged people to place the candle in their window this Sunday, March 26th, Mothers Day.

Mr McFarlane said:

"The commemorative candle is an initiative aimed at remembering in a small way the sacrifices of the 10 men who died and also showing continuing solidarity with their families, 25 years on from the events of 1981.

"We choose Mothers Day as the day when we are asking people to place the candle in the window of their homes as a particular tribute to the immediate families of those who died and as a tribute to the courage they displayed throughout those long and difficult months from March to October 1981."
_________________
"Everyone Republican or otherwise has their own particular part to play. No part is to small, no one is too young or old to do something." Bobby Sands

The revolution continues. the struggle goes on!
Join the Revolution, Join Ógra Shinn Féin!



And all those with candles in their windows will get a visit from the local Shinner Padre


Seriously are the shinners now spinning off into religion given that the oil-smuggling gig has been blown ?

Panamana

[hiding behind a poster]

Mr McFarlane said:

"The commemorative candle is an initiative aimed at remembering in a small way the sacrifices of the 10 men who died and also showing continuing solidarity with their families, 25 years on from the events of 1981.

"We choose Mothers Day as the day when we are asking people to place the candle in the window of their homes as a particular tribute to the immediate families of those who died and as a tribute to the courage they displayed throughout those long and difficult months from March to October 1981."

I'm sure the ten children of Jean McConville see no hypocrisy whatsoever there.

[Ciaran]

What follows is a statement by Francis Mackey, national chairperson of the 32CSM on the issue of commemorating the Hunger Strikers.


"Calling his parties’ attention to the fact that 2006 marks the 25th anniversary of the Hunger Strikes Mr Adams relayed;

‘It is difficult to do justice to the memory of those who died on hunger strike.’

I submit to him that no such difficulty exists. We do justice to their memory by being true to it. We do justice to their memory by practicing a politics which does not undermine the legitimacy of their struggle. We do justice to their memory by defending what they defended. We do justice to their memory with freedom of speech and democratic debate. And we do justice to their memory by reflecting the Five Demands for what they are, a singular demand for the British Government to desist in its violation of Irish National Sovereignty. The Hunger Strikes were a separatist action deserving far more than opinion poll rhetoric to mark them. For as much as 2006 represents the 25th anniversary of those events it also marks the 8th anniversary of events which retrospectively criminalised them. Those who signed the GFA, and in so doing afforded rights to the British Government to rule in Ireland, did so at the expense of the rights which the Hunger Strikers entrusted to us to defend and pursue. Is Mr Adams now telling the republican community that the British Government and Margaret Thatcher were the ten men’s lawful gaolers after all? This is the true difficulty of which Mr Adams speaks, and which he now faces, because it is the political truth of his actions"

Light a candle by all means but don't engage in political activity that runs counter to what they themselves stated that they died for.
Remember them with pride.

[MichaelHennigan]

It crossed my mind last week when there were media reports on the 15th anniversary of the release of those who were wrongly convicted for the 1974 Birmingham bombings, that there were no posts on the issue.

Twenty one people were murdered in two pubs and those who planted the bombs, were never caught.

[jerryp]

Forget about candles in windows.etc.True republicans are asked to bring candles to Slab's underground warren on the border,the bastards have cut off the lecky!