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Terry O'Sullivan, Paul Maskey and Jeremy Corbyn
Be
An Activist
I had the
privilege of attending many of the debates and discussions which are a unique
and vital part of Féile an Phobail. Well done to all the participants and in
particular to the organisers and the stewards who ensured that everything
worked smoothly. Thanks also to the venues which welcomed us all.
I want to
touch briefly on the remarks made by Terry O'Sullivan and Jeremy Corbyn at
separate events, particularly on the importance of organising civic society.
Jeremy, a former leader of the British Labour Party and Terry the General
Secretary Emeritus of The Laborers' International Union of North America are
wonderful advocates for the imperative of organising social and political
movements to bring about deep rooted and positive change.
For all of
the differences in their two countries the need to organise people is a common
thread in their work. That and a fierce commitment to equality and social
justice. And a love for Ireland. We are lucky to have them as allies and
friends.
This
columnist is a long time believer in the power of people, properly organised,
strategic and strong in their beliefs and values. There are lots of
current and historic examples of the changes brought about by such movements in
Ireland and other parts of the world. Political change will be more meaningful,
deep rooted and advanced if it is led by informed and committed citizens.
Shaping a fair society is too important to be left solely to politicians. Of
course public representatives have an important role including the
delivery of legislative and underpinned guarantees of peoples
rights once those rights have been won. But they are unlikely to be won
without popular struggle. Progress is dependent on that. Activism is central to
this. And activism works.
Jeremy
quoted James Connolly to make this point. In an article “The Economic Basis of
Politics”Connolly argued ‘an effective political force’ had to have its
origins ‘deep down in the daily life of the people, not in the brains of some
half dozen gentlemen in parliament.’
For his
part Terry O Sullivan told us that the ‘labour movement is once again on the
rise throughout North America ….a new generation of workers is beginning to
understand the power of activism’
He outlined
how LiUNA organised labourers, mostly emigrants with little rights or
protections. He like Jeremy spoke of the importance of solidarity. ‘An
injustice to one is an injustice to all’. He said: ‘The trade union
movement is the single most effective anti-poverty programme ever devised’.
Féile An
Phobail is a great example of activism and community empowerment. It is
inclusive grassroots democracy in action. On all fronts. Cultural,
educational and artistic. The creative arts for the many. And its
enjoyable. Full of hope and colour and vitality.
So activism
works. Creating a new Ireland means ending the union with England. There is now
a way to do this. Activism is crucial to secure that goal.
James
Connolly believed in the reconquest of Ireland by the Irish people. I believe
in that too. So did Bobby Sands. Bobby wrote ‘The day will dawn when all the
people Ireland will have the desire for Freedom to show. It
is then we will see the rising of the moon.’
So there is
space for all progressives in the work to shape an empowered movement for a new
shared Ireland. As Jeremy Corbyn said: ‘The planning, the preparation, and the
consultation needs to take place beforehand so that people know what the choice
is. What exactly is the proposition they are voting for. This requires serious
and novel engagement. Every available resource and expertise should be pooled.
Citizens Assemblies, local forums and civic consultation should be utilised.
That work will be done here in Ireland obviously.’
He went on
to explain the role for people in Britain. Terry did the same in relation to
North America. That is important. But few of us will have a contribution
to make there. Our work is where we live.
And
it is clear what we have to do here. Change is underway. Lets be active
in shaping and deepening that change. Its time to get involved. Its time
to move beyond talking about it. Or leaving it to others. There is a role
for everyone. Its time to be an active citizen. Its time for
campaigning, organising, for democratic empowerment. Lets do it. Be an
activist.
Rita
O’Hare and Áras Uí Chonghaile
Áras Uí
Chonghaile on the Falls Road was formally opened by Uachtarán na hÉireann
Michael D Higgins in April 2019. Through its historic artefacts, art work,
innovative technology and story-telling it teaches us of the life and times of
James Connolly – 1916 executed leader.
Last
Thursday a large number of family, friends and comrades of Rita O’Hare came
together to unveil a plaque in Áras Uí Chonghaile in her memory. Without her
unique contribution this important project might never have succeeded.
When
Belfast activists first discussed the possibility of opening a centre named
after James Connolly they faced many difficulties. Finding the necessary
funding was a particular challenge.
It was into
this critical gap that Rita O’Hare stepped. As Sinn Féin’s North America
representative she was uniquely placed to help. Rita was quickly won over to
the merits of the project and with her contacts in the USA and especially
within the trade union movement she successfully reached out to nearly 20
different unions seeking their solidarity and their funding. LiUNA in
particular, led by Terry O’Sullivan and the Transport Workers Union led by John
Samuelson have been especially supportive.
As a
grateful acknowledgement of Rita’s singular contribution and on the day I
launched a Léargas book celebrating Rita’s activism, Terry O’Sullivan former
LiUNA President and I unveiled the plaque to Rita. Well done Rita.
Also on
same day I launched a Léargas – An Bhean Dhearg: A Tribute to Rita O’Hare. It
is available from www.sinnfeinbookshop.com and An Fhuiseog 55 Falls Road
www.thelarkstore.ie
Internment and mass incarceration
Wednesday 9
August was the anniversary of one of the most disastrous decisions in recent
Irish history. On the 9 August 1971 the Unionist Regime and British government
introduced internment without trial. It was a watershed moment in the history
of the northern state as hundreds were dragged from their homes, thousands of
families were forced to flee to refugee camps, and many of those lifted in the
early morning raids were beaten.
Internment
was an act of mass political violence and intimidation. It had been used
successfully in every previous decade since partition by the Unionist Regime.
On this occasion it failed.
The use of
internment and detention centres also followed a pattern employed by British
governments going back at least to the middle of the 19th century.
Following
the failed insurrection in India in 1857 over 20,000 people were incarcerated
in what were called ‘mass encampments.’ The conditions were appalling. Forced
labour and starvation were deliberately used to coerce those detained. Such
camps were not just used for political prisoners. Later in the 1870s and 1890s
when plague and famine struck in India new camps were established to separate
the hungry and sick. Forced labour of the weak and sick was used again.
During the
Boer War the British government ordered the construction of around 100
concentration camps into which more than 100,000 mainly women and children were
herded. They died in their thousands through malnutrition, starvation and
disease. In addition 30,000 prisoners of war were transported to remote parts
of the British Empire.
After the
Easter Rising 1500 men were interned without trial. Most were held in the
Frongoch internment camp in Wales. In the 1950s and 60s such camps were again
put to use in Malaya and Kenya and other parts of the British Empire as native
peoples fought for independence. In her remarkable Pulitzer Prize winning book
‘Imperial Reckoning,’ published in 2005 Caroline Elkins documented the
systematic torture and brutality that took place in Britain’s detention camps
in Kenya. She revealed a British strategy of detention, beatings, starvation,
torture, forced hard labour, rape, and castration, designed to break the
resistance of the Kikuyu people. More than a million men, women, and children
were forced into barbed-wire village compounds and concentration camps.
Four years
later in 2009 five survivors of the Kenya detention system successfully sued
the British government. The British have now changed the law here to prevent
hundreds who were illegally interned in the 1970s from suing them.
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