Building The IRPAS Campaign in America
BUILDING THE IRPAS CAMPAIGN IN AMERICA ON Saturday, June 10t, Irish Republican Political Activist Support (IRPAS) campaign coordinator Patrick Williams appeared on the New York weekly radio programme, Radio Free Éireann. Pat discussed briefly with the hosts John McDonagh and Sandy Boyer the fact that there are still Republican political prisoners in both Irish states and that the dependants of these prisoners and other political activists deserve assistance.
Pat also told them that participants in the IRPAS program would receive monthly bulletins with up to date information regarding the plight of political activists who are imprisoned on the inside or in a state of virtual imprisonment on the outside!
On July 8 IRPAS coordinator, Pat Williams made another appearance on RFÉ. Geraldine Taylor from Belfast was a guest on the show. Geraldine, a member of the Republican Sinn Féin Ard Chomhairle, has spent all her life working in support of political status for Republican prisoners and activists and is still in the forefront of that struggle.
She informed listeners about the White-Line picket which is another Belfast phenomenon, made up by activists and supporters standing on the white dividing line in the middle of a Belfast city street. They carried banners and information kits seeking support for the prisoners on protest in Maghaberry Prison.
Geraldine noted that there were close to 300 people on the line in the middle of the busy Falls Road earlier that day just before that she got on the air
. She was very pleased to note that other organisations also joined in support along with local people, indicating that there is concern about the escalating protest in Maghaberry. She went on to emphasise that the prisoners were not on hunger strike, but that they were rightfully refusing to eat their meals in their cell right next to the toilet, which is a permanent fixture in each cell which is unhygienic and creates a health hazard.
She said that the prisoners demand the right to eat their meals separately in the canteen and that the British have consistently refused this as part of their attempt to criminalise this generation of Republican activists.
Geraldine said that the prisoners are now forced to try and supplement their diet by purchasing vitamins within the prison because the prison authorities refuse to allow the families to bring the vitamins in - at a lot less expense. She said that this was an additional financial strain on the families.
Geraldine stressed time and again that this escalating protest could be alleviated by just a little action, by anyone and everyone who has now become aware of the growing problem for Irish republican prisoners within the British prison in Maghaberry and for their families who are trying to cope with harassment on the outside.
Geraldine implored listeners everywhere to make appeals to the governor of Maghaberry Prison, and to make elected officials, the media and other activists aware of the situation before it gets worse. Hosts John Mc Donagh and Sandy Bowyer spoke on the anniversary on the death of 1981 martyr Joe Mc Donnell on July 8th 1981 in Long Kesh concentration Camp.
John who was in Ireland and attended the funeral spoke of the riots that occurred when the British attempting to capture the honour guard. He said that he remembers the tremendous outpouring of emotion and grief and he said that he hoped that such a situation this would be happening again. Pat Williams (IRPAS) informed listeners about the CABHAIR Monthly Sustainer plan that Cumann na Saoirse Náisiúnta has in place here in America.
Pat explained that the plan is now in its second month and has shown good response for the June appeal. He said that it is a voluntary appeal and that the amount to be contributed is up to the donor. Pat said that a number of people collected the 25th anniversary hunger strike calendar for having donated at least $100.00. Pat joined in the call for activist to do as Geraldine suggested and contact elected officials, the media and other activists before the situation spirals out of control.
He concluded by reminding the listening audience that this year was the 25th anniversary of the 1981 Hunger strike and that "as they were political prisoners in 1981 and they are political prisoners today", as the principles are the same.
Pat also told them that participants in the IRPAS program would receive monthly bulletins with up to date information regarding the plight of political activists who are imprisoned on the inside or in a state of virtual imprisonment on the outside!
On July 8 IRPAS coordinator, Pat Williams made another appearance on RFÉ. Geraldine Taylor from Belfast was a guest on the show. Geraldine, a member of the Republican Sinn Féin Ard Chomhairle, has spent all her life working in support of political status for Republican prisoners and activists and is still in the forefront of that struggle.
She informed listeners about the White-Line picket which is another Belfast phenomenon, made up by activists and supporters standing on the white dividing line in the middle of a Belfast city street. They carried banners and information kits seeking support for the prisoners on protest in Maghaberry Prison.
Geraldine noted that there were close to 300 people on the line in the middle of the busy Falls Road earlier that day just before that she got on the air
. She was very pleased to note that other organisations also joined in support along with local people, indicating that there is concern about the escalating protest in Maghaberry. She went on to emphasise that the prisoners were not on hunger strike, but that they were rightfully refusing to eat their meals in their cell right next to the toilet, which is a permanent fixture in each cell which is unhygienic and creates a health hazard.
She said that the prisoners demand the right to eat their meals separately in the canteen and that the British have consistently refused this as part of their attempt to criminalise this generation of Republican activists.
Geraldine said that the prisoners are now forced to try and supplement their diet by purchasing vitamins within the prison because the prison authorities refuse to allow the families to bring the vitamins in - at a lot less expense. She said that this was an additional financial strain on the families.
Geraldine stressed time and again that this escalating protest could be alleviated by just a little action, by anyone and everyone who has now become aware of the growing problem for Irish republican prisoners within the British prison in Maghaberry and for their families who are trying to cope with harassment on the outside.
Geraldine implored listeners everywhere to make appeals to the governor of Maghaberry Prison, and to make elected officials, the media and other activists aware of the situation before it gets worse. Hosts John Mc Donagh and Sandy Bowyer spoke on the anniversary on the death of 1981 martyr Joe Mc Donnell on July 8th 1981 in Long Kesh concentration Camp.
John who was in Ireland and attended the funeral spoke of the riots that occurred when the British attempting to capture the honour guard. He said that he remembers the tremendous outpouring of emotion and grief and he said that he hoped that such a situation this would be happening again. Pat Williams (IRPAS) informed listeners about the CABHAIR Monthly Sustainer plan that Cumann na Saoirse Náisiúnta has in place here in America.
Pat explained that the plan is now in its second month and has shown good response for the June appeal. He said that it is a voluntary appeal and that the amount to be contributed is up to the donor. Pat said that a number of people collected the 25th anniversary hunger strike calendar for having donated at least $100.00. Pat joined in the call for activist to do as Geraldine suggested and contact elected officials, the media and other activists before the situation spirals out of control.
He concluded by reminding the listening audience that this year was the 25th anniversary of the 1981 Hunger strike and that "as they were political prisoners in 1981 and they are political prisoners today", as the principles are the same.
posted by Poblachtach at 11:01 AM
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