|
Blog Feeds
Anti-Empire
The SakerA bird's eye view of the vineyard
Public InquiryInterested in maladministration. Estd. 2005
Human Rights in IrelandA Blog About Human Rights
| Rage against racism- report national | miscellaneous | news report  Saturday March 23, 2002 19:04 by Shane Kenna - Socialist Youth Report of the Socialist Youth Rage against Racism: Thanks to all those who attended, especially Globalise Resistance who made their presence heard and known with a few good Chants! TOMORROW BELONGS TO THOSE WHO PREPARE TODAY-Malcolm X With a great atmosphere, a gathering of over 70 people mostly Youth marched through Temple Bar and shouted anti racist slogans and called for an end to the racist policies of Fianna Fail, the establishment and declared that it was profit who was the enemy not asylum seekers. The rally was, like the march, a success with an excellent rendition of traditional Armenian music, rock and pop. Latif Sirhilden, a Kurdish refugee, gave a rousing speech in which he told the large gathering of the plight of the Kurdish people who are daily oppressed in Turkey. He Praised SY in Cork and Dublin for the work that the organisation is doing to combat racism in Ireland and he slammed Noel O’ Flynn and Joe O'Callaghan for playing the race card in Cork. Chris from Belfast, gave a report of the anti sectarian work by Socialist Youth comrades in Northern Ireland and informed the gathering of Socialist Youths policy of uniting Catholic and Protest Youth (especially students) against Capitalism and the ruling class. He raised the points that the working class have more in common with each other than with the bosses and establishment politicians and that all sectarian crimes and acts must be condemned. Sinn Féin was slammed as a capitalist party for this the evidence of Bairbre De Bruins record on hospitals as MLA for health in the Northern Ireland executive was cited. During this speech it was raised that Sectarianism had to be tackled “ In the class room, on the streets, in the workplace” Paul from Dublin raised the issues about Racism, he declared that “10,,000 people wait on the hospital waiting lists, that 13% of Irish children are born into poverty,” for this it was capitalism who is the enemy and the establishment, NOT the Asylum seekers. He resolved that if there were no refugees than the establishment would use something else to put the blame for the problems it creates on, that Capitalism would indeed attempt to place the blame on and use as scapegoats “Single mothers, the unemployed etc” Many of the speeches also pointed out the wrongs of Capitalism and how it sordidly survives through “Cheap labour” which ultimately leads to poverty. All speakers also employed the key theme “Racism benefits the establishment.” It is true to say this as the establishment uses racism as a divide and rule tactic to weaken the working class. Paul raised the question “What if anti racism fails?” The answer was simple, it will be the Youth who will suffer. It is us who will have to live with racism, it is us who will have to live with further scapegoating by capitalist media and establishment and perhaps fascism. Susan from North Dublin, raised the historical event which 42 years ago this week in then Apartheid South Africa, Black South Africans took to the streets and protested against the apartheid system. The protesters were massacred by the then South African police, which ultimately forced the UN to declare March 21st International anti racist week.
For this she raised the fact of the hunger strikers in Mount Joy Prison, informing the gathering that most of the refugees waiting deportation were sent home in an awful state with poor health, with one man being badly assaulted by Customs. Indeed one Asylum seeker a Nigerian man who is being detained in Mountjoy declared “I would rather die in an Irish prison than live in Nigeria” Susan called on all at the rally to come to the protest at Mountjoy tonight at 7: 30 in a show of solidarity with the remaining asylum seekers in Mountjoy. At the rally, it was agreed and raised that the establishment is the enemy, and that it is that very organism of the state that creates the problems of Irish society NOT the asylum seekers. It was noted that a movement of radical youth should come together and fight racism a build a new society free from racial hate which is created by capitalism. We agreed that Young people have a particular role to play in combating racism
SO THANKS TO EVERYONE…… |
printable version
Digg this
del.icio.us
Furl
Reddit
Technorati
Facebook
Twitter
|
View Comments Titles Only
save preference
Comments (14 of 14)
Jump To Comment: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14Well done on getting you 70 people but I am a little confused. You say you slammed Sinn Fein, are you suggesting Sinn Fein are racist? Why is this brought up on an anti racism march. You would think that it might be worthwhile in the struggle that lies ahead to actually see people uniting
We slammed them as an establishment party. Take de Bruins record on health in the north as an example.
Or the pay rise for MLAS.
In sligo sinn fein councillors voted in the bin tax.
THIS IS NOT SOCIALIST.
If this was an anti-racism march, then why were you scoring points off Sinn Fein? If you oppose racism and they oppose racism then you are on the same side.
Shame, for you could have taken the opportunity to build opposition to racism. Instead, you chose to build your party. Do you think that the "seventy young people" will go and vote against Sinn Fein because you said it? If you want to oppose racism then do it properly - instead of co-opting a genuine campaign into your grubby political party activities.
We opposed all the sectarian political parties of the North not just Sinn Fein.
By the way this was done during a speech on SY's anti sectarian work in Northern Ireland.
I have to agree with s sat and ant- racist above (though i don't know why people can't leave their real names and organisations).
As a socialist i disagree strongly with a host of Sinn Fein policies and tactics though i think it is a mistake and certainly not in the interest of anti racist unity to raise these differences at an event billed as anti- racist. It is of course the government, the state and other racists we need to concentrate our fire on. Political differences should be raised in the context of campaigns and policies where there are real differences of approach and opinion. Anti- racism is not one of these.
Sinn Fein have a very good record on racism in the last couple of years. They have consistently asserted the rights of refugees and immigrants in their weekly paper which has a large circulation in urban working class areas, the areas most likely to be targeted by racist and opportunist politicians. And, in fairness, it has not just been talk
In my home town, Clonakilty, Sinn Fein Councillor Cionnaith o Sulleabhain addressed a large anti- racist meeting organised by the local SWP branch and he has consistently argued in favour of the rights of local refugee's that have been dispersed into the area by the government.This has had a very positive influence.
In Wicklow, where i am active, we have worked closely with shinners and other socialists, republicans and anti- racists raising the issue of racism in the area. I know there are many other examples from around the country.
This is not to say that the rightward influence of electoralism may damage sinn fein's anti-racism , but there is no evidence of this happening yet. If Sinn Fein became part of a colaition government that continued the racist policies of this government then it would be right to attack them on a nti racist picket, march or whatever.
I think the real issue about Saturdays demo is it's tinyness. Other anti- racists events that i have been involved in organising in different parts of the country have pulled thousands of activists onto the street and made areal difference to the atmosphere around the issue of immigrants.
Getting a large number of people to united front events like an anti- racist demo- (united front because no one organisation or shade of politics can lay claim to exclusive ownership of anti- racism, though of course there will be important disagreemnts within that unity about how to progress) depends on the involving of the broad anti racist movement in organising them, including Sinn Fein.
Anti- racist events which are organised on a partisan basis are invariably small and can be demoralising for activists.
What kind of events over the spring and summer do people think anti- racists should be organising?
It is the leadership of Sinn Fein that are establishment and that cannot be denied. They are pondering a coalition govt with Fianna Fail if they get enough seats in the general election.
I have no problem with the membership of Sinn Fein who are predominately working class and the grass roots support are also working class.
So if I offended anyone I do apologise. But I stand by what I said the leadership of Sinn Fein are establishment.
Some of the responses to Shane's report of the Socialist Youth organised anti-racist demo have been more than a little surprising.
First we have had an anonymous contributor complaining that nobody should bring up the nature of Sinn Fein, than we have had Dave Lordan of the SWP making some very unusual remarks.
I suppose I should tackle some of the points made, and I hope that this will be taken in the friendly spirit in which it is intended.
First off, the anti-racist march was not a liberal march. It was called with a specific set of socialist demands prominently displayed. Anyone was welcome to come on the march, and express their own ideas on it, but it is hardly reasonable to complain that speakers made points that went beyond "racism is bad" and tackled broader issues.
Secondly, we have the matter of Sinn Fein's record on racism. Dave correctly points out that SF's line on immigration has by and large been good. He neglects to mention their recent record on anti-traveller prejudice (see their local councillors attitude towards travellers in Tallaght), or more glaringly their major role in increasing and maintaining sectarianism in the North. A reasonable speech about sectarianism (hardly out of place even at a liberal demonstration) is hardly going to ignore SF's role.
Thirdly we have the complaint about this action being organised on a "narrow" basis. Let's make this clear: any organisation has a right to hold a march, or a rally or a meeting on its own particularly where differences of approach exist - as there certainly are between groups as varying as SY, AFA, the SWP, RAR and so on. SY organised this march, made it clear that it was behind the march and invited the participation and support of other organisations.
If you will forgive my cynicism, Dave's appeal for "broad" organisation rings a little hollow given the SWP's standard practice on the issue. The SWP calls anti-racist marches under the name of the ANL or the Anti-Deportations Committee or whatever the front of the month is. That doesn't make those marches broader in their organisation - just less honest.
Anyway, yesterdays march was small but not insignificant. It laid down an anti-racist marker from a socialist and working class perspective rather than from the usual liberal one. I for one am glad to see that. It was also good that other left wing organisations, including the Anarchist Fed and Globalise Resistance turned out. Now the more productive questions remains. How can we all advance the cause of anti-racism in Ireland?
First of all a big pat on the back to the Socialist Youth Party for orgainizing this great event.
Secondly, excellent remarks by Dave Lordon.
Especially:-
"As a socialist i disagree strongly with a host of Sinn Fein policies and tactics though i think it is a mistake and certainly not in the interest of anti racist unity to raise these differences at an event billed as anti- racist."
Yes, THANK YOU Sinn Fein for you work on anti-racism. This was not the venue for bringing up other policy problems with Sinn Fein. On the contrary, their participation in anti-racism is to be greatly encouraged.
"I think the real issue about Saturdays demo is it's tinyness"
Yes, this is the appropriate and real issue to be addressed. With the size of Dublin's poplulation and the success of previous marches why was this one so small?
One of the solutions to this I think, is contained in Socialist Youth's Shane Kenna's opening remark "Thanks to all those who attended, especially Globalise Resistance who made their presence heard and known with a few good Chants!"
I really believe that Globalise Resistance is THE WAY FORWARD. All us "lefties", humanitarians, environmentalists, socialists, anarchists, anti-capitalists etc. etc. NEED SOME UMBRELLA ORG. TO "LINK US ALL TOGETHER" for common events SUCH AS THIS ONE.
The SWP is pushing Globalise Resistance forward otherwise it will collapse, and all our voluntary work, I as one of them!!! will be all but in vain.
The SWP is the SWP. Globalise Resistance is Globalise Resistance. The SWP is just "ONE" member of Globalise Resistance. Should it ever become any more than this I would raise hell over it!
So PLEASE, Socialist Youth, are you already a member or part of Globalise Resitance? If not please join/become part of. Everyone within GR has EQUAL say. It is an UMBRELLA, ORGANIZING, body much like what was behind the first big demo in Seattle and like the Genoa Social Forum in Genoa. Look at what success these things brought!!!
Let's replicate these successes here in Ireland and TAKE DOWN this MURDEROUS, BLOODY AND OPPRESSIVE CAPATALIST SYSTEM, which George Bush Jr. embodies and encapulates.
So whether you are an INDIVIDUAL or and ORANISATION, PLEASE JOIN OR BECOME PART OF GLOBALISE RESISTANCE.
Let's work TOGETHER, Let's stop our bickering and Let's do this!
Yours sincerely,
Michael Ronan O'Connell.
087-9212272
To EVERYONE (whether you are an INDIVIDUAL or ORGANISATION)
Join or become part of Globalise Resistance
www.globaliseresistance.cjb (though the site is currently under replair but there still are a few postings)
Contact:-
SWP, Gluseacht or Comhlamh Third World Trade Group. I don't know off hand all the other affiliated members off hand, cause the feckin' site is down! Come on Garry, get the lead out! :)
I only have the numbers for the SWP:-
Tel. 01-8722682
Fax. 01-8723838
E-Mail: [email protected]
or contact me:-
Michael Ronan O'Connell
Mobile:- 086-2410755
Work:- 021-4310702
Fax:- Number available upon request
E-Mail:- [email protected]
Web:- Under construction
As a Non Sinn Fein supporter/member myself because I disagree strongly with some of their policies on the North I nonetheless agree with Dave Lordan of the Socialist Workers Party (Ps. I'm not a member/supporter of the SWP either) on yesterday's Rally/March and on the wider issue of the urgency of launching a United Anti racism Campaign. This is more important than ever in the context of the upcoming General Election where politicians especially those from the governing Fianna Failure and Regressive 'Democrats' are deliberately stoking up the fires of racial tension and hatred in a sordid and grubby attempt to gain a few extra votes and to disguise their own failures in Office over the last 5 years. There have been several reasonable sized Anti racist Demos in Dublin over the last few years. The most impressive Demo of the lot was the Mayday Demo in Dublin in 2000. This was the biggest of all the Mayday Demos that I had been on over the previous 5 years. It was certainly the only Mayday Demo that had over 1,000 people on it! For once the Dublin Council of Trade Unions actually had an imaginative topic for the Mayday Demo. All the Anti racist organisations such as the Anti Nazi League and Anti Facist Action were present on the Demo that day. People might remember it. It was the day when the Sustainable Cities people who were having an Alternative Mayday down at the Civic Offices marched down the Quays to join up with the Mayday Demo at Liberty Hall and further swelled the attendance. That's the kind of Unified Action that we need and not just in Dublin either!
It is very disheatening both for those who participate in a March and also for the organisers of the Demo when despite of all the very hard work that they've put into organising and publicising the Demo when you only get a small number of people turning up. Unfortunately I've been on far too many of those such Demos down the years including yesterday's Protest. I mean fair play and congratulations to Socialist Youth for pulling out all the stops over the last few weeks in publicising yesterday Demo. In addition to notices on IMC there was also a very extensive postering campaign. There were loads of posters publicising yesterday's Rally plastered all over Ranelagh, Clonskeagh, Goatstown, Kilmacud, Stillorgan, the Stillorgan Road and Donnybrook in addition to lots of posters in the City Centre. Then only a very small but very eager crowd turn up. I know several other people apart from myself who are very disillusioned when this unfortunately all far too often regularly happens. It does put people off from participating in future Protests because they think that all Protests are always going to have the same small turnouts. Finally to end on a much more positive note it was very encouraging that other Left Wing organisations, including Globalise Resistance and the Anarchist Federation turned out for yesterday's Demo.
Quite clearly there is a need for a massive amount of anti rascist work in Dublin and that need has never been greater. We are now looking at several deportations a day, a continous rise in rascists attacks and abuse and a legal attempt by the givernment to end the right of people to stay based on their child's citizenship
We need people prepared to fight on these issues on the ground. We need people prepared to build real links with local communities both Irish and immigriant. We need people to join groups with real precense like Residents Against Racism and AFA
What we don't particularly need is another tiny march based on completely abstract slogans marching around temple bar. It is time for us ALL OF US to take ourselves seriously, to fight in a meaningful way on issues that we can win and to fight like winners. People are not idiots. Marching them arouns temple bar with a slogan saying "fight the system not asylum seekers" makes them look that way. (and hey I agree with the slogan but its a pretty meaningless one to organise a march around)
i don't want to critisie the organisers of this march maybe they tought it was better to do something then nothing and maybe it is. But lets focus on real issues. We could start with the remaining hunger striker in the Joy. Heres some info from RAR. Mean time its time its past time that we all grew up and got real. We can actually beat this system we can actually replace iut with something better but we have to start using our brains and stop behaving like idiots - or is this just a bridge too far ?
RAR managed to get in to Mountjoy to speak to Alabi yesterday (Friday March 22nd) along with another asylum seeker who had been on strike, whose name is Idowu Akinola Olarewaju. He is also Nigerian, and both he and his wife are in prison (his wife is in the women's prison) awaiting deportation.
RAR are deeply concerned about the state of Alabi's health. He has now been on hunger-strike since Wednesday March 13th...today is his 10th day on hunger-strike and he was already in a frail condition physically.
Although the prison first stated that he had also given up his hunger strike, Alabi confirmed he is determined to carry on, weak though he is. His doctor reports that he is having trouble with his liver, and he is extremely weak now. It is worth noting that RAR first made contact with Alabi a year ago when we were alerted by his cellmate in Cloverhill prison, who was extremely worried that he would die (Alabi, at the time, had managed to break a few ribs while in custody and as a result spent much of his time in prison in hospital in intensive care on a respirator).
The immigration police tried to deport Idowu on Thursday, but then returned him to prison. RAR have seen Idowu and physically, his hands and his legs are injured; a doctor, who examined him this morning, wanted to give him painkillers, but Idowu is scared that he will be deported while under the effects of the drugs. Alabi is also considering making a complaint about his treatment at the hands of the Immigration Police on his way from the courts to prison.
We would ask people to write to Bertie Ahern, the Taoiseach (prime minister), expressing your concern about the treatment of both men who are currently residing at his pleasure a mere five minute walk from his constituency office. Please feel free also to write to both Alabi and Idowu at: Mountjoy Prison, North Circular Road, Dublin 7.
Many thanks for your continued support.
Residents Against Racism
C/O Comhlamh
10 Upper Camden Street,
Dublin 2.
0876662060
DON'T MAKE ORPHANS OUT OF ALABI'S CHILDREN!
DON'T LET ALABI DIE!
Your Fax's, Emails, phone-calls make a difference...
CONTACT NUMBERS:
1. The Department of Justice:
Main contact information
John O' Donoghue
Minister for Justice
72-76 St Stephen's Green, Dublin 2, Ireland
Tel: 01-6028202
Main Fax no: 01-66165461
Email: [email protected]
2. John Lonergan
Governor, Mountjoy Prison
North Circular Road
Dublin 7
01-8062800
Fax No: 01-8062834
--
I agree with what Conor has written here on the subject. As Conor says "Quite clearly there is a need for a massive amount of anti rascist work in Dublin and that need has never been greater." Also you're spot on when you say "What we don't particularly need is another tiny march based on completely abstract slogans marching around temple bar." As I've said myself I and a lot of other people are are totally peeved off after participating in one small Demo after another. Hopefully the National Anti war Demo in Dublin on 27TH April, the offical Dublin Council of Trade Unions Mayday March on 1ST May and the Reclaim The Streets events planned for the Mayday Bank Holiday Monday May 6TH will be a hell of a lot bigger and better! As Conor again rightly says the real action at the moment is happening up at the Joy with the one remaining hunger striker Alabi. That's where the focus of our Anti racist Rallies/Marches should be for the moment. As Joe Carolan said we should March from the Central Bank on Dame Street to the Joy and hold a Mass Picket outside the Joy on the North Circular Road.
Well judging by the May day events of last year I'm sorry but the trade council march often tend to look like night of the living dead last years was particularly small. The May 6th party might be good but it will need numbers and organisation anyway could be a change from the norm
Conor
Conor is right about last year's Dublin Council of Trade Unions May Day March in particular. Last year's May Day March was a total and utter fiasco and a complete shambles! What do you expect I suppose when you have a bunch of boring old farts, the most notorious of them being that obnoxious Sam Nolan 'organising' and I mean 'organising' in inverted commas because it was such a disaster, the 'official' DCTU May Day Rally/March.
That's why we will need numbers and organisation for the 3 upcoming Events in Dublin - The National Anti war Demo in Dublin on 27TH April, the offical Dublin Council of Trade Unions Mayday March on 1ST May and the Reclaim The Streets Event on the Mayday Bank Holiday Monday May 6TH. We do urgently need to have at the very least a loose organising committee Co-ordinating these 3 major events in Dublin and Organising Solidarity Actions in the Rest of the Country.
Many Sinn Féin activists are active anti racist campaigners I don't think that anyone can deny that. But they are an establishment party, if in coalition in a few weeks time will they stop the racist deportations or asylum laws? I would be very suprised if they did. We just have to look at Sf's record in govt to see they are by no means a radical or revolutionary party as they claim.
I think that some people have taken Chris's comments out of context. He was speaking in the context of working class unity being a way to cut across racism. Sinn Féin in the north activly work against working class unity. They are a sectarian party they foster and exploit difference between Catholic and Protestant workers. Would Dave Lordan and the SWP support this sectarian politics?
Socialist Youth are affiliated to GR, we do co-operate with GR and do try to be active within it. Because we are affiliated to GR does not mean that we can't organise seperatly or have our own independent line and policies. We all know I'm sure the dangers of 'popular frontism'.