SF addresses racist attacks

by tom Wed Jan 14, 2004 14:47

As most of the attacks seem to be coming from unionist / loyalist paramilitaries or their hangers on it's difficult to see what Sinn Fein can do about them. Fair play to them for trying though.

by what can be done Wed Jan 14, 2004 16:38

I am not from Belfast but I think that SF could do something practical to help the people being attacked. They could put pressure on the Housing executive to facilitate the transfer of victims from the areas they live in to safer areas as they have done in the past with both catholics and protestants (but in most cases catholics).

by i'm not bitter Fri Jan 16, 2004 18:45

that's great that SF are up for justice even now that they're the government. can't beat a good community meeting! wouldn't we be proud if they'd make the same concerned faces about the queers whose rights they trample every time they show up for the NYC st. patrick's day parade to march with bigots and collect fat checks from the rich, institutionalized party faithful in america who wouldn't know socialism if it smacked them in the face. and it should.

by lol Fri Jan 16, 2004 20:05

you're just stupid. Case you havent noticed, SF are not in Government. They have nothing to do with the Patricks Day parade in NYC. And they were the only party on Belfast City Council to defend gays against loyalist bigots.

by Tom Shelley Fri Jan 16, 2004 23:53 Boulder, CO USA

And SF are not honoring it. There is also an "alternative," inclusive parade around st. pat's day in Queens which so far SF have not participated in.

I'm a SF supporter, but not an uncritical one. By participating in the AOH-sponsored and exclusive NYC parade in the face of a boycott which is honored by most liberal politicians, SF is giving legitimacy to the ban on gay organizations. If they were to honor the boycott and publicly call for an end to the boycott and attend the Queens parade, that would add to the preassure on the AOH. It might also have some effect on homophobia among SF supporters in Ireland and the US, and might lead to more american leftists supporting SF.

At the very least SF could call for an end to the ban and/or attend the Queens parade.

This is simply the right thing to do. We are talking about bigotry. The AOH is effectively saying, you can't be Irish and gay.

Bernadette Devlin had the integrity to stand up to racist Irish-Americans when she was here from 1969 on, even when she was asking them for money. This situation is no different.

Tom

by pat c Sat Jan 17, 2004 18:43

the aoh are bigots, noquestion about it. sf have a good pro gay record but this puts a stain on it.

by shaner - St Patrick's Queer Nation Fri Jan 23, 2004 17:37 s.ocurry at ulster dot ac dot uk

Yeah, the Shinners are the best of a bad bunch. Can't say much for their record with the AOH coat trailing excercise in Manhattan (is it just me or does an all-white pro cop homphobic parade come across a bit like an Orange Order parade in Portadown?). I was at the Queens Parade a couple of years back, a real rainbow affair, the way it should be. Later I was at the ILGO picket of the AOH one.

The Féile people in Derry are trying to push a broad, racially diverse, inclusive programme for this year's Patrick's day celebration for which they have an infinitessimally small budget. Does anyone know how we could get in touch with any of the organisers of the Queens parade to encourage them to get funding to come over for the Derry event? It would make good press and seriously undermine the Ancient Oirish Hatemongers claim on Irish authenticity.

by Tom Shelley Sat May 02, 2015 19:35

In my second paragraph ("I'm a SF supporter") I mean an end to the ban, not the boycott. Probably everyone got that, but just in case I wanted to leave this note.

tOM