Derry Stands up in Solidarity with Palestine
derry |
anti-war / imperialism |
news report 
Thursday January 01, 2009 16:14
by Free Palestine - Ógra Shinn Féin
osfnational at yahoo dot ie
On New Year’s Eve, Ógra Shinn Féin mobilised at the Diamond in Derry City alongside other political groups, to demonstrate solidarity with the beleaguered people of Gaza, who are being, murdered and injured in their hundreds daily by Israeli rockets.
Following the protest the assembled groups and activists, met to decide further co-ordinated solidarity acts for Palestine which include a public rally in Guildhall Square Derry this Saturday at 3pm.
Urging maximum turnout for Saturday’s rally, Derry Ógra Shinn Féin chairperson Aoife McNaught said,
“There was a very positive act of solidarity on New Year’s Eve in Derry for the brutalised people of Gaza, we hope that our acts combined with those across Ireland and the world, can force the international community to pressure Israel into ending the slaughter, and raise the spirits of the Palestinian citizens who are enduring unimaginable hardship.”
“We need to step up these actions in the time ahead, and Ógra Shinn Féin will be joining rallies across Ireland this weekend in Dublin, Cork and Derry, as well as organising information stalls and vigils in local areas. Join with us in these actions, and let us send a clear message to Israel this weekend that their abhorrent crimes against humanity must come to an end, Ireland and the world demands it.”
Comments (2 of 2)
Jump To Comment: 1 2Israel has been under daily rocket attack by Hamas terrorists who seek to destroy Israel and murder Israelis for eight years.
Israel has targetted Hamas missile launchers, Hamas bases, Hamas headquarters, Hamas government buildings and Hamas police stations.
5 in 6 out of the 350+ dead are in fact Hamas members and this clearly evident from television and newspaper coverage has shown dead bodies wearing military uniforms.
Inevitably there have been civilian deaths because Hamas operates from residential areas in Gaza using the civilian population has a human shield.
The Hamas organisation is backed by Iran and Syria and the Hamas Charter makes it clear that it is not interested in a negotiated peace settlement with Israel, that it does not recognise the State of Israel, that it seeks to destroy it, to murder the entire Jewish population and establish an Islamic fundementalist state run according to Islamic Sharia Law. Sharia Law is fundamentally undemocratic and discriminates against women, homosexuals and all non-Muslims.
Meanwhile Irish republicans want to establish a 32-county Irish Socialist Republic with democratic liberties for all regardless of religion, race, gender, sexual orientation or political outlook.
The ideology of the Hamas movement is complete anathema to everything that Irish Republicanism stands for.
In fact the State of Israel which is a society that espouses the same principles of democracy and liberty and equality that Irish Republican does.
Just as Irish Republicans fought for their freedom from British rule, the people of Israel fought to overthrow British rule.
By siding with the Hamas extremists in Gaza, you are betraying everything that you believe in.
The very positive act of solidarity on New Year’s Eve in Derry was organised by the Derry Anti War Coalition. The only speaker was Eamonn McCann, representing the DAWC. As well as members of the DAWC, the rally was attended by members of the SDLP, Sinn Fein, the Socialist Workers Party, the 32-County Sovereignty Committee, Organise! and unaffiliated members of the public.
The DAWC has organised visits to three major supermarkets in the city tomorrow, Friday, to take action to dramatise the call for a boycott of Israeli goods.
The coalition has organised a Solidarity with Gaza rally in Guildhall Square at three pm on Saturday. All local political parties and Derry Trades Council have been invited to send speakers. A speaker from Gaza will also address the rally.
On Sunday, the DAWC will hold an event at Free Derry Wall to mark the 40th anniversary of the slogan "You Are Now Entering Free Derry" being written on the wall and to dedicate the wall at this time to the people of Gaza.
All are very welcome to all these events,
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