Friday evening in Newry [Aug 27th], Republican activists attempted to highlight the human rights abuses of political hostages and the ongoing use of internment by holding a whiteline picket close to the British Courthouse.
Unfortunately at the same time and place sectarian bigots mobilised in their hundreds for a sectarian hate display. As always the ever willing Crown Forces placed a ring of steel around nationalist Newry in order to facilitate these bigots. Roads were blocked, scores of riot clad state mercenaries surrounded local Republicans, backed up by dozens of Armour plated land rovers and for good measure a military spy plane circled the town to keep the local population under surveillance.
Commenting on the issue Saoradh’s Newry representative Stephen Murney said “Dozens of Loyalist bands and hangers on, who don’t even live in Newry, were bussed into the town to triumphantly tramp around the centre of Newry as the local population were held to ransom.
“Local Republicans were physically prevented from getting anywhere near the Downshire Road and were manhandled and corralled into Lower Water Street where an impromptu anti-internment picket ended up being held. This is despite the fact that our event was publicly announced several weeks before there was any notion of a Loyalist band parade.”
Stephen added “Residents across Newry were either too afraid or were simply unable to venture outside their homes. People couldn’t shop or socialise on what should have been an enjoyable Friday evening, the start of the Bank Holiday weekend. Instead they were hemmed into their homes as a sectarian display was facilitated whilst traffic was brought to a complete standstill.
“This happened just as we are coming out of lock down yet hundreds of decent Newry people found themselves forced into another lock down with entire communities stretching the Belfast Road area being subjected to several hours of disruption and sectarian intimidation.
The local community worker added “Members of other political parties (namely the SDLP) were able to gather unhindered on the ground in the area of the Downshire Road. We challenge those parties to make comment on the fact that a peaceful, legitimate picket was physically prevented from taking place and that Republican political activists were prevented from gathering in a peaceful manner on their own streets.
This goes in stark contrast to the SDLP’s message of “respect” earlier this week.”
Murney concluded by announcing the party’s future intentions “As a Socialist Republican Party, Saoradh are of the firm belief that sectarianism in any shape or form is unacceptable and should be eradicated. Yet we are now in a situation where sectarian hate marches are facilitated by the British state and all its apparatus including riot clad gunmen/women, armoured land rovers and military planes.
“We believe it’s high time that an organised approach is made in future in order to directly challenge these sectarian Parades. Saoradh are only too willing to assist local communities to organise in a disciplined and robust fashion.”
ENDS
CLANRYE NEWS 