Opposition grows to Bloomberg Sligo visit

by Alex - LP Thu Aug 10, 2006 20:13

A CALL has been made on Sligo/Leitrim Deputy John Perry to cancel the invitation to Mayor Michael Bloomberg of New York to visit Ballymote in the wake of recent statements made by the mayor in support of the Israeli invasion of the Lebanon.

Speaking at a Connolly forum meeting in Sligo over the weekend, former local election candidate Mr. Tim Mulcahy criticised Mayor Bloomberg’s recent statement supporting the Israeli invasion of southern Lebanon.

"The appalling loss of life of innocent women and children and the deliberate interference of the relief effort by the Israeli army and air force is reprehensible and is shameless abuse of power against an unarmed and defenseless civilian population," Mr. Mulcahy said.

He went on: "The total and unqualified support being given by the Bush regime and its failure to put pressure on Israel to even allow a humanitarian relief effort is quite outrageous. It is a gross over retaliation and has been condemned by governments through out the civilised world", Mr Mulcahy said.

"Even our own Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs has come out unanimously against the war and has criticised the Israelis and their activities in the region.

"Amnesty International too has come out and condemned the actions and the loss of life on both sides but also pointed out that the activities of the Israeli armed forces seem to point at a direct targeting of innocent civilians and civilian infrastructure," he said

Mr. Mulcahy added that while Mayor Bloomberg would not be facing the Irish electorate within the next year, John Perry would.

"It is important that he, and all the general election candidates, make their position crystal clear on this humanitarian tragedy in southern Lebanon that is unfolding on our TV screens every night. He can start by telling the Mayor of New York to stay at home, and find someone else to unveil his statue," Mr. Mulcahy concluded.

by LOL Thu Aug 10, 2006 21:10

Good to see Labour in Sligo doing their bit, pity they don't have public reps like that down in Cobh!

Interesting that FG and LAB don't see eye to eye on this matter

by Gurley Flynn Fri Aug 11, 2006 02:08

Last Tuesday voters in the Democratic primary in the state of Connecticut defeated Senator Lieberman. Lieberman, an avid supporter of the war on Iraq, immediately announced his intention to run as an independent in next Novermbers elections. On Wednesday, Bloomberg held a press conference to announce his support for Lieberman. Bloomberg is firmly in the pro war camp.
Last December during the strike by the Transport Workers Union, Billionaire Bloomberg led the capitalist offensive against the workers, appearing frequently on TV, demonizing the workers.
The President of the union, Roger Toussaint, was jailed and the workers are still without a contract.
Toussaint, shortly after he became president of the union visited the ancestral home of Mike Quill in Kerry. Quill, the founder of the union, through his comradeship with James Gralton, was heavily influenced by the industrial unionism of James Connolly. Thanks to Connolly, Quill, Gralton and Toussaint, the ideas of James Connolly are today a living reality in New York City: the TWU is an industrial union and the most radical union in New York-the capital city of world capitalism. As such, the TWU is a direct threat to the interests of the class led by billionaire Bloomberg.
Billionaire Bloomberg, a war monger and enemy of workers, should receive no welcome in the land of Connolly, Gralton and Quill.

by o as if Fri Aug 11, 2006 08:20

& you will too...

writing is on the wall.

by anon Sat Aug 12, 2006 01:28

Previous Iternary for the PR Blitz,
http://www.unison.ie/sligo_champion/stories.php3?ca=34&...14425

Solemn memorial... awaits big name to dedicate it!
A number of the Fighting 69th Veterans Association came over for the ceremony and felt like they were left high and dry,"
http://www.irishexaminerusa.com/mt/2006/08/02/the_irish....html
http://www.sligoweekender.ie/news/story.asp?j=29042

Corcoran, who was born at Carrowkeel, Ballymote, in 1927, was a hero of the Union army in the American Civil War.
He was also involved in the setting up of the Fenian Brotherhood.
The monument in Ballymote’s town park will be a national monument for one of the most famous regiment’s of the American army.
It will contain steel taken from site of the 9/11 atrocity in New York. And will be dedicated to New York firefighting priest and the 69th Regiment.

Previous debates on reasons why to protest Bloomberg
http://www.indymedia.ie/article/76978
http://www.indymedia.ie/article/77358

by Leprechaun Sat Aug 12, 2006 09:12

It symbolic. It tells us about our ties to the murderous regime.
We give them shamrock in crystal and they give us bits of ground zero.

No need really: Our regime is intimately connected with theirs and they will want a permanent
base in Ireland soon enough. The wars will be going on a while.

by slugo Sat Aug 12, 2006 13:29

Ballymote is easy enough to get to: 15 miles south from Sligo town, near the N17 (from Galway) and the N4 (from Dublin etc).. Its on the Dublin-Sligo train line which costs about 20eu for a day return. Its on some kinda busline too from Sligo.
The more the merrier! make the fkker squirm..

by Felix Quigley Sat Aug 12, 2006 14:11

Michael bloomberg should be welcomed. Hezbullah is a Jew hating movement and its leader, Nasrullah is an anti-Semite. There are strong fascist elements to Hezbullah and we have a picture showing Hezbullah giving the fascist salute. None of this is mentioned by the Israel haters above.

by Ballymote Man Sat Aug 12, 2006 14:30

Mr. Perry has decided to go ahead with his invitations...2,500 all in Dail envellopes!...at the Irish tax payers expence.
Bloomberg is arriving at 11.00am in Ballymote(Aug 22nd) to unveil the statue.I would like to invite as many as possible to attend.The morning train leaves Connolly Station at 8.am and arrives in Ballymote at 10.40 . The day return is 25 euro.The station is about 5 minutes from the unveiling.Expect a large Garda and Army presence!!