Ógra Shinn Féin Revive 'Rock Against The Blocks'

national | miscellaneous | press release Thursday June 08, 2006 16:23 by Éirigi - Ógra Shinn Féin osf6county at yahoo dot com

'Rock Against The Blocks' are Republican Youth concerts and were a common feature during the Hungerstrike of 1981, they were organised by 'Youth Against The H Blocks' who mobilised massive support behind the Prisoners 5 Demands, through the use of popular and direct action means.

25 years on from the 1981 Hungerstrike, and from the original ‘Rock Against The Blocks’, Ógra Shinn Féin have revived the youth concerts.

Spirit of Freedom wearing their Ógra shirts proudly!

Barry McColgan Ógra Shinn Féin spokesperson said,
‘The 'Rock Against The Blocks' were massively successful, they where a way of popularising the struggle, bringing thousands of young people together for a social night, but by their support for the concerts also showing their support for the Prisoners.’

’The Basque Youth Movement Segi have been organising Concerts and Festivals like these for years, with a good mixture of Social events and Politics, giving the struggle a mass appeal - it has proven very successful.’

’The 'Rock Against The Blocks' of 1981 where hugely successful, and this year Ógra Shinn Féin have organised a number of massively successful concerts in memory of the Hungerstrikers in Tyrone, Belfast and Derry.’

‘The most recent of these concerts was held in a packed bar in South Belfast. Hungerstrike pictures and banners were draped around the hall and Ireland’s biggest rebel band ‘The Spirit of Freedom’, sung songs of struggle and revolution. During the concert an Ógra activist gave a speech about the legacy and inspiration of the Hungerstrike, urging the youth gathered, to continue on the struggle for which our patriot dead have died.’

McColgan concluded, ’We continue on with these alternative means of mobilisation proudly - in memory of the 10!’

The crowd listen proudly to revolutionary ballads!