Young Greens Attack Gaza Protest

international | anti-war / imperialism | news report

Wednesday January 07, 2009 11:12

by Truth-Teller - SP

National chairperson of the Young Greens slanders protestors

In a recent article in the Irish Times, Young Green Party chairperson Barra Rowntree expressed his disappointment that the large Dublin Gaza protest had been disrupted by "a small group of fanatics".

Speaking after attending the protest, Roantree said the fact some people had used the opportunity to burn the Israeli flag and dress children in military fatigues was "not only unhelpful, but utterly contradictory to the aims of the world peace movement": "Those who burn flags and glorify violence only fan the flames of the tragic conflict in the Middle East."

Those who attended the demo can confirm that the remarks made by the Chairman of the Young Greens, that the demonstration was "disrupted by a small group of fanatics" are a load of rubbish.

If Mr Rowntrees concern is the world peace movement, I respectfully suggest that he spend less time attacking the anti-war movement here, and more time attacking his own parties' representatives in government, who have been silent of late on the use of Shannon Airport by the US military apparatus.

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Comments (7 of 7)

Burning the Zionist Flag

by Bazooka Joe

Thu Jan 08, 2009 18:59

I think burning the flag of the Zionist state is a worthy act and should not be criticised by a member of the youth wing of the Green Party. I see some very intelligent and well informed Rabbis also burning this symbol of the supremacist state of Israel.

Rabbis Burning the Zionist Flag

allah akbar

by james - none

Wed Jan 07, 2009 20:20

so what if someone burns a flag? the flag of israel is not a symbol of the jewish people but the symbol of the zionist state..a racist state built on occupied land whcih denies the previous occupants the right to return to their villages and lands!
i have no problem with people burning symbols of say fascism (not saying israel is fascist, although they are a reactionary state) or symbols of the klu klux klan or symbols of aparthied south africa...
israel is not a normal state the divide between jews and arabs isnt like the divide up north.. the only way it would be the same situation would have been if the brits had moved their capital to dublin and displaced all the inhabitants to a few square miles in the wicklow mountains, then cut off food, aid and electricity...
if someone wants to fly hamas flags, so be it, obviously its not nice to see children dressed in fatigues but these children seemed to be in the company of one man who seemed quite agitated and slightlly disturbed..so dont think we need to deduce there's some kind of ominous trend going on there...
as for the greens...christ...shannon for a start!...they turn up on the palestine protest and immediately start approving and dis approving certain forms of protest as appropriate or in appropriate.. ridiculous...
and i am proud to stand alongside people chanting 'allah akbar' even though i myself am an athiest because the question of religion is not relevent in this struggle.. when u see footage of a man weeping over the bodies of 4 dead children and he cries out to god as his only hope... and relatives of his here shout to god for help..noone can condemn that..how dare they!
religion may be the flowers with which people adorn their chains but the point is to criticise the chains...

Flag Burning

by clares

Wed Jan 07, 2009 17:43

I wholehearted disagree with the suggestion that burning a flag is a non-violent action. However regardless of where you stand on the issue the point must be conceded that what is important is that large numbers of people come out on the streets to show their support for Palestinians and that the current momentum is sustained and built on. Actions like burning flags, dressing children as soldiers will only alienate a large number of people who may not be regular activists but feel strongly enough to come out and protest about this issue. An Isreali friend of mine was a protest where a flag was burnt and she was horrified and also afraid that people might find out she is Isreali.

Also in Cork at one point during the protest, protesters were asked to sit on the ground and then over the speakers, some organisers started to chant Allah Akbar. As someone mentioned earlier this week it seemed like the protest had be hijacked by a minority to push a certain agenda. These actions wont build momentum rather erode the base of the movement.

I don't like people burning flags and dressing children as martyrs, but if they must then on their own time. I can't and won't be seen to condone these actions

Flag burning

by inchicore_saint

Wed Jan 07, 2009 16:05

I would be more concerned about the hundreds of people being killed then a few home made flags being burned.

Image is everything for the RTE and middle class guilt !

by mmmmm.

Wed Jan 07, 2009 14:03

" but it does nothing for our cause to imply violent impulses in our movement"

- A symbolic jesture of burning flags is not violent
- "dress children in military fatigue" - does this include white people wearing combats ?

Green Party have no right to take any moral high ground on this issue. They are exposed for what they really are, supporting "terror" - shannon airport. They indirectly cause more suffering to people around the world than children wearing "military fatigue" our people burning flags, even if these were made in sweat shops.

Rubbish?

by Mike Anti

Wed Jan 07, 2009 13:39

The burning of the Israeli flag, and positioning children in a militaristic fashion should be utterly abhorred as tactics in this issue. I stand four-square behind the Palistinian people at this time, but it does nothing for our cause to imply violent impulses in our movement.

And people attempting to score cheap points by criticising the Young Greens for their parent organisation's actions are ebodying the boring sectarianism which besets all progressive-minded movements in this country. Grow up.

If it is an anti-war demo

by Ron

Wed Jan 07, 2009 12:55

There's no place for burning one side's flag and certainly no place in dressing anyone, aspecially no young children, in uniforms. Are you against war, or are you against the Israeli side alone? Was it the other way around would you protest or would you cheer?

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Young Greens Attack Gaza Protest

Comments (7 of 7)