Israeli Army on Derry walls
national | miscellaneous | news report 
Friday April 26, 2002 18:35
by spanner - toolbox
Historical murals in Derry's Bogside have been subverted to bring Palestinian situation home.
ISRAELI ARMY ON DERRY WALLS
This morning in the Bogside ‘Gallery’ not everyone noticed that forces had been afoot in the wee small hours. Two of ‘The Bogside Artist’ murals that yesterday dramatically depicted images of our past, and our streets, this morning suggest Ramallah, Jenin, Bethlehem…….
In an anonymous statement the ‘artists’ responsible said, “This subversion is in support of the Palestinian people. It is timed to coincide with the national demonstration in Dublin, on Saturday (27th April). The demonstration is organised to give focus to widespread outrage at the barbaric actions of Israel and the lack of condemnation from western governments including our own. As citizens on this island we must not be afraid to stand up to the Israeli government even if it upsets their sponsors in the United States.”
One mural suggests a Palestinian youth, with stone in hand confronting an Israeli armoured vehicle. The other suggests an Israeli solider sledge-hammering in a Palestinian door. A contextualising statement on the back of Free Derry Wall states that “Today in Palestine, in communities like ours, the Israeli army are busy committing war-crimes against humanity, in the Warsaw-like ghettos they have created”… and asks people to boycott Israeli goods.
The spokesperson for the group said: “In the Bogside, murals have traditionally been about live issues, the struggle for justice, about creating awareness, about making connections - building solidarity. Although we have a noble history of struggle here, our murals should not just become shrines to the past. The ongoing struggle for justice here is deeply connected to the struggle for justice internationally. The frontline is always shifting, it is not in the Bogside today, it is in Palestine.”
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Comments (12 of 12)
Jump To Comment: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12Well done for putting this up - this is what Indymedia is about not all that crap from so-called socialists.
Thanks!
In the name of Palestinian Liberation -
Guerilla Artists “Liberate” Derry’s Bogside Murals
“The collective immobilizes history. It exorcises the future by the commemoration of the past in the eternity of the present. Through ceremony, the death principle (repetition) overcomes the life instinct (innovation), and the group is stabilized.”
(Space and Nation, Lindsay Bremnar, 1994)
“Derry’s murals must not become shrines to a fossilized past….where memory, politics and struggle are rendered safe for the passive gaze of tourists and voyeurs. We must rescue the city from the dead time of museum culture and its curators who pose as our political class. The local struggle for justice and civil rights was and is part of a universal project. The frontlines may shift over time. Yesterday’s oppressed may have become the oppressors of today. Nevertheless, the cause of liberation in Palestine is ours. Boycott Israeli goods Now.”
Guerilla Artists
This is disgraceful. You take part in illegal activities like graffitiing, vandalising public spaces even though you have not been elected and therefore do not have the right to express your opinions unlike ... er... me. Ok I wasn't elected and I am a bbc presenter on radio foyle and I do spout half-baked pseudo-liberal, but basically pro-status quo, pro-authority gibberish, but I am a really nice guy and I mean well, and I was selected by those well-meaning people at the bbc because I represent that middle of the road sort of opinion unlike this sort of carry on which I deem fascism with a small f.
If this is not propaganda what is?
Yeah good one guys, change with the times, reflect thre current issues, and always remember we are all in this together (except for this Lalric character who seems to have some serious negativity problems, oh well)
Viva la revolucion!!
I am glad to see the world has yet a ounce of humanity.....this is brilliant...powerful ..overwhelming and TRUE!!
At first I was somewhat neutral towards this topic given the
inveterate hostility of Europeans to Israel but I really have to
admire the quality of the artwork--brilliant expressionism at its
finest!
Then I read the commentary about "Warsaw-ghetto-like"
actions of Israel...still shocked.
Europeans have NOTHING to say to Israelis about that
subject...seriously...the only response I can make is to do my
damndest to make sure that the safety and survival of Israel
are never affected by the desires of our European enemies
to harm us...since any protests in favor of the legitimacy of
Israel are going to fall on your deaf ears.
What kind of crap is this? PALASTINIAN? What the hell is that?
Paddy Whack ?
What the hell type of name is that ?
Perhaps the Derry artists should have done murals about the happy homesteaders developing barbarous Arab lands, and Isaeli soldiers bombarding Palestinian kids with sweets and flowers. How dare they misrepresent the truth in this fashion.
The UN never called for 'withdrawal of Israeli forces from the occupied territories'.
A bit of polyfilla is needed.
Can't wait for the mural showing the aftermath of a homicide bombing at a bus stop.
Ah the dog is alive and well, still propping up the israeli position I see. Doire - like Palestine has already seen it's share of children being shot in the face by illegal occupying forces. Suicide bombers - get a grip!!