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May Day, lets make it a day of Peaceful celebration

category national | summit mobilisations | press release author Friday April 23, 2004 18:09author by Patricia McKenna MEP - Member of the European Parliamentauthor email mckennap at iol dot ieauthor address European Parliament Office, 43 Molesworth Street, Dublin 2author phone 00353 1 6616833

An appeal by Patricia McKenna, Green MEP for Dublin, to respect the tradition of peaceful protest and to make May Day a day of peaceful celebration.

May day is a day of celebration and festivities. May day in Dublin will be
a day to welcome the people of the ten new countries who are joining the
European Union. We want to see that they are treated fairly as equal
citizens in the new Europe.

I hope that those coming to Ireland, to take part in any of the events
organised for that day, do so in a spirit of peace and celebration.

Irish people have a tradition of being able to both celebrate and protest
peacefully and we want to maintain that tradition. Indeed, to do otherwise
would only play right into the hands of those in authority who would wish to
restrict our right to freedom of expression.

Everyone taking part in mayday
activities should do their utmost to ensure that it is a family fun day of
celebration, peace and entertainement.

Comments (3 of 3)

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Is there an appeal from McKenna to the Gardai?
author by R Isiblepublication date Fri Apr 23, 2004 18:22author address author phone

I am a little disturbed with the wording of this statement from McKenna. She appears to be buying into the hype that "foreign" protestors (notice her repeated referencing of some mythical Irish tradition of "peaceful protest") will be a problem.

She ought to be well aware that peaceful Irish (and other) partiers and protestors for reclamation of the city were assaulted by the Gardai at the RTS party.

A speedy clarification from the Green Party and Patricia McKenna in particular would help to allay suspicions that this Press Release is carefully worded and not just unfortunately and naively phrased.

your a little too easily disturbed methinks :)
author by stevepublication date Fri Apr 23, 2004 21:36author address author phone

maybe she only wants to talk to those she feel involved with. It's someone elses job to keep the guards in check.

Whaa?
author by Robpublication date Sat Apr 24, 2004 01:41author address author phone

And it's Patricia McKenna's "job" to keep us "in check"?

http://www.indymedia.ie/article/64546

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