McDowell Not Welcome in UCD

dublin | rights, freedoms and repression | press release

Tuesday October 11, 2005 18:27

by UCD Anti-Racism Campaign

UCD Anti-Racism Campaign tackles McDowell in Belfield

Earlier today members of the UCD Anti-Racism Campaign held a spur of the moment protest on the Gaelic pitches of UCD where a match between the Gardaí and the PSNI was played.

In attendance at this game was the President of UCD Hugh Brady and the Minister for Injustice, Inequality and Law Deform Michael McDowell.

Placards were held up and Michael McDowell was confronted by members of the group regarding his racist and neo-liberal agenda. He refused to answer any questions and enter into a debate. He was informed that he was not welcome and the protest went off peacefully.

The UCD Anti-Racism Campaign believes that the university should not invite individuals such as Michael McDowell out to campus. Given that 11% of UCD students are non Irish nationals, this is wholly inappropriate and contributory towards the casual racism that exists both in UCD and in Ireland generally.

We will continue to tackle these inequalities in society and continue to protest both inside and outside the university when any individual of Michael McDowell’s “calibre” is making a public appearance.