Confronting sectarianism: A wedding and a strike: I am not guilty – I want to go home, Leonard Peltier
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Confronting sectarianism
The posting online of a vile video showing members of
the Orange Order mocking the murder of Michaela McAreavey has been widely
condemned. Last week in another video Pastor Barrie Halliday appeared on social
media describing Catholics as ‘rats that need to be murdered with rifles and
grenades.’
Both of these actions are evidence of an existing
underlying sectarianism within northern society that has its roots in English
colonialism and in the deliberate fostering by the British state in Ireland of
division between Catholics and Protestants. The Loyal Orders have long played a
prominent role in promulgating this.
That sectarianism still exists is not surprising.
Unionist political leaders and their British allies often play the Orange Card
as they seek to maximise their electoral vote or secure an advantage in a
negotiation.
Since partition there are few Catholic families in the
North that have not had direct experience of sectarianism, of discrimination in
employment or housing, of collusion involving unionist death squads, the B
Specials, the UDR, RUC and British Army or of pogroms. Orange marches with
their ‘kick the Pope bands’ and sectarian songs – like The Famine Song; their
posters of nationalist politicians or of religious statues on bonefires and
their desire to parade triumphantly through or past nationalist areas have long
been part of the nationalist experience.
The dignity and grace of Michaela‘s family is an
example to us all.
Words like ‘abhorrent’ or ‘shameful’ or
‘despicable’ readily spring to mind when sectarianism rears its head. But if
society is serious about challenging sectarianism there is a need to go beyond
the rhetoric of condemnation. The fact is that sectarianism is written into the
DNA of the northern state. The celebration/commemoration of the centenary of
‘Northern Ireland’ and the Orange Hall event which was a part of this, are a
case in point. It is important to note that those involved are a bigoted
minority. But they have to be stood up to.
So, what to do? The reality is that sectarianism will
not be wished away. It cannot be ignored. The starting point must positive
leadership from political, cultural, religious and civic society. The law and
the enforcement of the law also has a crucial role to play in this. That means
a new legal definition of sectarianism entrenched in law with legal sanctions
and robust incitement to hatred provisions.
All cultural celebrations and expressions should be
governed by the principles of respect, equality and parity of esteem. And the
allocation of all public funds must be disbursed fairly and proportionately, and
on the basis of mutual respect and sensitivity for the identities and
aspirations of others. Bigotry and sectarianism should not be publicly funded.
It should be illegal.
Frank Connolly
A wedding and a strike
James Connolly is one of my heroes. He was a
socialist, a republican, a writer, a thinker, a trade union leader. He fought
for the rights of workers and against their exploitation. He joined with Pearse
and Clarke and Ceannt and others in the Irish Republican Brotherhood at Easter
1916 in striking for Irish freedom and for the right of the people of Ireland
to independence and self-determination. He was vehemently anti-sectarian.
Working in Belfast he experienced at first hand the despicable way in which
sectarianism was used by unionist and business leaders to divide workers.
Áras Uí Chonghaile – on Belfast’s Falls Road - is a
unique tribute to Connolly. It is an exceptional historical and educational
interactive experience, containing artefacts from Connolly’s life and from the
1916 period. It is close to 1 Glenalina Terrace, which was Connolly’s home for
the last five years of his life.
Last month the Royal Society of Ulster Architects
named Áras Uí Chonghaile as the Building of the Year. The distinctive portrait
of James Connolly on the perforated-metal gable wall also won the Integration
of Art Award.
Last Saturday Frank Connolly, author, SIPTU
official and one of Ireland’s leading investigative journalists, formally
opened the Leabharlann Uí Chonghaile/James Connolly Library.
The library which is situated on the first floor is
a welcoming space in which the visitor can sit and read some of the many books
available. It contains accounts of Connolly’s life, including those by his
daughters Nora Connolly O’Brien and Ina Connolly Heron, as well as works
written by the man himself. It also contains books on politics in Ireland and
internationally.
In his remarks Frank Connolly (no relation)
described James Connolly as an “extraordinary socialist agitator, writer and
anti-imperialist revolutionary...He was killed, not just for his role in
organising the Easter Rising, as Commander in the GPO of the Irish Volunteers
and members of the Irish Citizen Army, who combined during those weeks to form
the Irish Republican Army. It was also because he was a threat to the
capitalist class”
But the conversation wasn’t all serious. Frank
recalled a letter sent by James Connolly to his future wife Lillie. In it he
wrote: “It is such a long time since we met, but I trust we will meet to part
no more. Won’t that be pleasant. By the way, if we get married next week, I
shall be unable to go to Dundee as I promised as my fellow-workmen in the job
are preparing to strike on the end of this month for a reduction in the hours
of labour. As my brother and I are ringleaders in the matter it is necessary we
should be on the ground.”
His daughter Ina remarked: “I have always thought
it the hallmark of my mother’s character that she should accept the hand of a
man who could mention wedding plans and a strike action in the same letter.”
Leabharlann Uí Chonghaile is now open for those who
want a quiet place to read, to think, to write. Its museum experience is
amazing and I would strongly encourage readers – if you haven’t called in yet –
to make it a point of visiting Áras Uí Chonghaile. For information:
ÁRAS UÍ CHONGHAILE
374-376 Falls Road
Belfast, BT12 6DG
Telephone: 02890 991 005Email: info@arasuichonghaile.com
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I am not guilty – I want to go home
This week I wrote again to Leonard Peltier, the
native American rights activist who has been imprisoned for 46 years. Regular
readers will know that over the years I have written about his continued
wrongful imprisonment – he is America’s longest serving political prisoner.
Leonard was convicted in 1977 of the killing of 2
FBI agents at the Pine Ridge Indian reservation in South Dakota. He has always
protested his innocence. Last year James H. Reynolds the former US Attorney
General whose office handled the prosecution in the Leonard Peltier case
appealed for Leonard’s sentence to be commuted. In recent months three
Democratic Senators – Sen. Patrick Leahy and Sen. Brian Schtaz and Sen. Mazie
Hirono urged President Biden to show clemency and free
Leonard. President Biden has an opportunity to do
the right thing.
In an interview recently with HuffPost Leonard
said: “I’m not guilty of this shooting. I’m not guilty. I would like to go home
to spend what years I have left with my great-grandkids and my people.”
If you have a moment write a letter or send a card.
Remember Leonard Peltier.
Leonard Peltier
#89637-132 USP Coleman
US Penitentiary PO Box 1033
Coleman,
FL, 33521
USA
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