RUC-PSNI also have problems with eirigi flags

[conghaileach]

RUC-PSNI nail their colours to the mast

03/05/08

An éirígí initiative to mark the 92nd anniversary of the Easter Rising has come under both verbal and physical attack in an area of the Six Counties notorious for sectarian discrimination against the nationalist community.

While the distribution of thousands of copies of the Proclamation of the Irish Republic and other éirígí commemorative events were well received in Belfast, Dublin, the Donegal Gaeltacht and north Munster, the response from some in the south Derry area has been nothing short of vitriolic.

Seven éirígí flags which were erected, along with a single tricolour, in Magherafelt town centre have triggered a tirade of anti-republican abuse from unionist councillors and their supporters. The seven flags, one to symbolise each of the seven signatories of the 1916 Proclamation, were erected on Thursday April 24th to coincide with the 92nd anniversary of the start of the 1916 Rising.

Speaking on local radio DUP MLA Ian McCrea (son of the firebrand unionist fundamentalist and British death squad apologist Willie McCrea) said of the commemorative initiative:

“This group honours the memory of terrorists and terrorism and therefore their flags are an offence to the decent law-abiding people of Magherafelt.”

Following on from McCrea’s comments the flags where removed by persons unknown on the night of April 29th. Three days later, as éirígí members were in the process of replacing the stolen flags, the RUC-PSNI arrived on the scene and promptly demonstrated their own sectarian prejudices.

éirígí chairperson in south Derry, Dominic McGlinchey, takes up the story:

“While we were in the process of replacing the flags stolen on Tuesday night we were approached by members of the PSNI. Initially they told us that they were responding to a complaint from a member of the public relating to men carrying ladders in the town centre. Apparently it takes up to a dozen armed men to investigate this serious crime!

“It wasn’t long before they started to question us with regard to the erection of the flags, telling us that it was an illegal act. But when asked what law made it illegal to fly an Irish tricolour in an Irish town they were unable to answer. Similarly when they were asked whether a large Union Jack flag had permission to be flown in the town they were left stuck for words.

“If further proof were needed that the role and function of British policing in Ireland remains unchanged it was plain for all to see tonight in Magherafelt. While a large Union Jack flies undisturbed 365 days of the year an Irish tricolour is hardly unfurled before a dozen armed men arrive to investigate. And all of this is in a town with a nationalist majority!

“We have made it clear from the outset that we would remove the flags on May 12th to coincide with the anniversary of the final executions of the 1916 leaders. It appears that the thought of the Irish national flag flying in Magherafelt, even for less then three weeks, is just too much for the bigots.

“It is also a sign of the continuing abnormal state of the Six Counties that while the flag of occupation adorns the most prominent buildings in cities and towns, the flying of the Irish national flag sparks hysterical outrage.

“This incident is reminiscent of the worst periods of the Flags and Emblems Act and the recent posturing of unionist councillors is in the same vein as that of Ian Paisley when he encouraged violent assaults on the nationalist community of west Belfast back in 1964. You have to ask the question – Has anything actually changed over the last forty years?

“He was wrong then and they are wrong now.”

Dominic continued: “Unionist death squads and their political allies fly offensive, sectarian flags throughout the Six Counties, and coat-trail, with state assistance, through nationalist areas en masse annually, yet republicans it appears aren’t entitled to remember the martyrs of 1916.

“We are replacing these flags as a matter of principal. We intend to erect our national flag in Magherafelt from April 24 until May 12 of each year from here on in, regardless of interference, hindrance or the offence it might cause to the delicate sensibilities of the bigots.

“Those dates mark the beginning and end dates of the most inspiring period of 20th century Ireland, from the beginning of the Rising until the execution of James Connolly and Seán Mac Diarmada, and we will remember them with pride in the simplest of ways – by flying the flag they fought under.

“We would ask that comrades, friends and supporters attend the upcoming éirígí function on Sunday 4 May, at McNally's Toomebridge to show their defiance of the bigots and their allies in the PSNI.”

www.eirigi.org (http://www.eirigi.org/latest/latest030508.html)

[robertemmett]

remincient of paisley going up the Falls to remove the tricolour.

this issue should be raised immeadiatley with the DPPs. they will sort out these few hot headed policemen.

[RisenBelfast]

Well done éirígí south Derry for facing down the RUC and commemorating the Rising and what a clear demonstration that the RUC remain as politicised and partisan as ever.

[andreas]

This is still the reality in Post GFA Ireland. All this bunkum about how the equality agenda will undermine the state just looks pathetic now. In reality while the unionist veto remains as an excuse for Britain to claim sovereignty here then this blatant disregard for the 'rights' of republicans will continue. As revolutionaries we ought to be glad that the state reacts this way, wouldn't it be a lot worse if they were welcoming us up on the hill with our lillies and tri colours with the rest of the reformists?

[MarkyMark]

An éirígí initiative to mark the 92nd anniversary of the Easter Rising has come under both verbal and physical attack in an area of the Six Counties notorious for sectarian discrimination against the nationalist community.

While the distribution of thousands of copies of the Proclamation of the Irish Republic and other éirígí commemorative events were well received in Belfast, Dublin, the Donegal Gaeltacht and north Munster, the response from some in the south Derry area has been nothing short of vitriolic.

Seven éirígí flags which were erected, along with a single tricolour, in Magherafelt town centre have triggered a tirade of anti-republican abuse from unionist councillors and their supporters. The seven flags, one to symbolise each of the seven signatories of the 1916 Proclamation, were erected on Thursday April 24th to coincide with the 92nd anniversary of the start of the 1916 Rising.

More...... (http://www.eirigi.org/latest/latest030508.html)

http://www.eirigi.org/images/magherafelt_flags.jpg

[RisenBelfast]

Already covered comrade.

http://www.irishrepublican.net/forum/showthread.php?t=13936

But its good to see the photo.

[on_remand]

****ing disgrace.

fly the flag lads, and resist this ruc tirade of sectarianism and out and out pure bigotory

[Comrade Ryan]

RUC-PSNI nail their colours to the mast
03/05/08

An éirígí initiative to mark the 92nd anniversary of the Easter Rising has come under both verbal and physical attack in an area of the Six Counties notorious for sectarian discrimination against the nationalist community.

While the distribution of thousands of copies of the Proclamation of the Irish Republic and other éirígí commemorative events were well received in Belfast, Dublin, the Donegal Gaeltacht and north Munster, the response from some in the south Derry area has been nothing short of vitriolic.

Seven éirígí flags which were erected, along with a single tricolour, in Magherafelt town centre have triggered a tirade of anti-republican abuse from unionist councillors and their supporters. The seven flags, one to symbolise each of the seven signatories of the 1916 Proclamation, were erected on Thursday April 24th to coincide with the 92nd anniversary of the start of the 1916 Rising.



Speaking on local radio DUP MLA Ian McCrea (son of the firebrand unionist fundamentalist and British death squad apologist Willie McCrea) said of the commemorative initiative:

“This group honours the memory of terrorists and terrorism and therefore their flags are an offence to the decent law-abiding people of Magherafelt.”

Following on from McCrea’s comments the flags where removed by persons unknown on the night of April 29th. Three days later, as éirígí members were in the process of replacing the stolen flags, the RUC-PSNI arrived on the scene and promptly demonstrated their own sectarian prejudices.

éirígí chairperson in south Derry, Dominic McGlinchey, takes up the story:

“While we were in the process of replacing the flags stolen on Tuesday night we were approached by members of the PSNI. Initially they told us that they were responding to a complaint from a member of the public relating to men carrying ladders in the town centre. Apparently it takes up to a dozen armed men to investigate this serious crime!



“It wasn’t long before they started to question us with regard to the erection of the flags, telling us that it was an illegal act. But when asked what law made it illegal to fly an Irish tricolour in an Irish town they were unable to answer. Similarly when they were asked whether a large Union Jack flag had permission to be flown in the town they were left stuck for words.

“If further proof were needed that the role and function of British policing in Ireland remains unchanged it was plain for all to see tonight in Magherafelt. While a large Union Jack flies undisturbed 365 days of the year an Irish tricolour is hardly unfurled before a dozen armed men arrive to investigate. And all of this is in a town with a nationalist majority!

“We have made it clear from the outset that we would remove the flags on May 12th to coincide with the anniversary of the final executions of the 1916 leaders. It appears that the thought of the Irish national flag flying in Magherafelt, even for less then three weeks, is just too much for the bigots.

“It is also a sign of the continuing abnormal state of the Six Counties that while the flag of occupation adorns the most prominent buildings in cities and towns, the flying of the Irish national flag sparks hysterical outrage.

“This incident is reminiscent of the worst periods of the Flags and Emblems Act and the recent posturing of unionist councillors is in the same vein as that of Ian Paisley when he encouraged violent assaults on the nationalist community of west Belfast back in 1964. You have to ask the question – Has anything actually changed over the last forty years?

“He was wrong then and they are wrong now.”



Dominic continued: “Unionist death squads and their political allies fly offensive, sectarian flags throughout the Six Counties, and coat-trail, with state assistance, through nationalist areas en masse annually, yet republicans it appears aren’t entitled to remember the martyrs of 1916.

“We are replacing these flags as a matter of principal. We intend to erect our national flag in Magherafelt from April 24 until May 12 of each year from here on in, regardless of interference, hindrance or the offence it might cause to the delicate sensibilities of the bigots.

“Those dates mark the beginning and end dates of the most inspiring period of 20th century Ireland, from the beginning of the Rising until the execution of James Connolly and Seán Mac Diarmada, and we will remember them with pride in the simplest of ways – by flying the flag they fought under.

“We would ask that comrades, friends and supporters attend the upcoming éirígí function on Sunday 4 May, at McNally's Toomebridge to show their defiance of the bigots and their allies in the PSNI.”

[RisenBelfast]

This was already posted twice but when the mod, who made a duplicate post, merged threads he ended up putting it in the wrong forum and changing the original title:

http://www.irishrepublican.net/forum/showthread.php?t=13941

[Comrade Ryan]

This was already posted twice but when the mod, who made a duplicate post, merged threads he ended up putting it in the wrong forum and changing the original title:

http://www.irishrepublican.net/forum/showthread.php?t=13941

Where is it?

I can't see it anywhere?

[RisenBelfast]

It was originally in this forum with the same title.

Marky posted it in the main forum removing the RUC from the title. When I highlighted the duplicate he(?) merged them together, left it on the main forum and still dropped the RUC from the title - I seem to recall others getting in trouble for altering text?

The thread is here;

http://www.irishrepublican.net/forum/showthread.php?t=13941

[neilhere]

Flags look great in the photo there!! Congrats Eirigi!

[JPL]

PSNI should be ****ing ashamed of themselves.. This should be addressed at a higher level. I would question our support for the PSNI if this continues.

[Jim]

PSNI should be ****ing ashamed of themselves.. This should be addressed at a higher level. I would question our support for the PSNI if this continues.

You'd question your support for the british police only after they removed flags?
So when they launched raids directed at republicans or when they attempted to disrupt our derry easter commemeration it wasnt an issue?

[neilhere]

The actions of the PSNI/RUC are hardly surprising. The old saying 'a leopard can't change its spots' certainly comes to mind!

[JPL]

You'd question your support for the british police only after they removed flags?
So when they launched raids directed at republicans or when they attempted to disrupt our derry easter commemeration it wasnt an issue?

Of course it's an issue. It's a group of issues piling up together. Do you think I supported the raids? If not, why would you ask such a question?

[Newry Republican]

remincient of paisley going up the Falls to remove the tricolour.

this issue should be raised immeadiatley with the DPPs. they will sort out these few hot headed policemen.

Aye they'll put manners on them:icon_lol:

At easter when i was erecting flags in my area the peelers drove past and ****ing waved at me, they must have thought i was a shinner:icon_lol:

[RisenBelfast]

JPL,

Since you are here, any chance of moving this back to the éirígí forum where it should be with the original title. Both were changed when a mod merged duplicate topics.

[Jim]

Of course it's an issue. It's a group of issues piling up together. Do you think I supported the raids? If not, why would you ask such a question?

Pulling down a few flags although disgraceful is considerably minor to people's doors being broken down and helicopters flying over a large body of people attempting to drown out the speakers.
Why now after this incident should there be anything done against supporting the british police?
You could also say that vincent mcanespie being lifted the day of the count in the assembly elections would have shown an indication as to what would happen.

Although im grateful that people are beginning to question support of the british police and its a fair indication of the trouble the provos are having pushing it on the ground.

[JPL]

JPL,

Since you are here, any chance of moving this back to the éirígí forum where it should be with the original title. Both were changed when a mod merged duplicate topics.

I can indeed a chara.

Consider it done.

[JPL]

Pulling down a few flags although disgraceful is considerably minor to people's doors being broken down and helicopters flying over a large body of people attempting to drown out the speakers.
Why now after this incident should there be anything done against supporting the british police?
You could also say that vincent mcanespie being lifted the day of the count in the assembly elections would have shown an indication as to what would happen.

Although im grateful that people are beginning to question support of the british police and its a fair indication of the trouble the provos are having pushing it on the ground.

No, I appreciate where you are coming from. It's just I don't often post in this forum (mostly in gaeilge), which is probably why you haven't seen me vocal about it. But I am absolutely 100% against a PSNI service which does not respect the culture and political beliefs of Republicans.

[RisenBelfast]

I can indeed a chara.

Consider it done.

Thanks. Any chance of putting the correct title back? We seem to have lost the RUC somewhere along the way (we can but dream).

Sorry to be a pain in the ass.

[JPL]

What was the original title?

[RisenBelfast]

RUC-PSNI nail their colours to the mast

It got changed when it was merged to Markys thread.

[Comrade Ryan]

What was the original title?

RUC-PSNI nail their colours to the mast

[Comrade Ryan]

Can one of the mods close this duplicate thread?

Thanks.

[Koneko]

to be fair, i merged the two threads. lets leave it a that.

[JPL]

everyone happy?

[RisenBelfast]

everyone happy?

Couldn't me more happy if I had a beer in my hand. And I have one of those too.

GRMA.

[Jim]

No, I appreciate where you are coming from. It's just I don't often post in this forum (mostly in gaeilge), which is probably why you haven't seen me vocal about it. But I am absolutely 100% against a PSNI service which does not respect the culture and political beliefs of Republicans.

thats fair enough but no british police service will show any respect to the political beliefs of anyone who oppose british rule.

[RisenBelfast]

thats fair enough but no british police service will show any respect to the political beliefs of anyone who oppose british rule.

And to fair no 26 county police force will respect republican beliefs either.

[JPL]

Couldn't me more happy if I had a beer in my hand. And I have one of those too.

GRMA.

lol - good stuff :)

thats fair enough but no british police service will show any respect to the political beliefs of anyone who oppose british rule.

I had hoped for that to change with the integration of more catholics.. I guess it's a lost dream, huh?

[andreas]

And to fair no 26 county police force will respect republican beliefs either.

Given the politically motivated internment of a number of republican separatist political activists by the free state forces, it would appear that they are more vociferous in their defence of the political status quo in Ireland than even the RUC/PSNI. This is not the case but they must appear so.

[Mairtin Og Meehan]

RUC-PSNI nail their colours to the mast

03/05/08

An éirígí initiative to mark the 92nd anniversary of the Easter Rising has come under both verbal and physical attack in an area of the Six Counties notorious for sectarian discrimination against the nationalist community.

While the distribution of thousands of copies of the Proclamation of the Irish Republic and other éirígí commemorative events were well received in Belfast, Dublin, the Donegal Gaeltacht and north Munster, the response from some in the south Derry area has been nothing short of vitriolic.

Seven éirígí flags which were erected, along with a single tricolour, in Magherafelt town centre have triggered a tirade of anti-republican abuse from unionist councillors and their supporters. The seven flags, one to symbolise each of the seven signatories of the 1916 Proclamation, were erected on Thursday April 24th to coincide with the 92nd anniversary of the start of the 1916 Rising.

Speaking on local radio DUP MLA Ian McCrea (son of the firebrand unionist fundamentalist and British death squad apologist Willie McCrea) said of the commemorative initiative:

“This group honours the memory of terrorists and terrorism and therefore their flags are an offence to the decent law-abiding people of Magherafelt.”

Following on from McCrea’s comments the flags where removed by persons unknown on the night of April 29th. Three days later, as éirígí members were in the process of replacing the stolen flags, the RUC-PSNI arrived on the scene and promptly demonstrated their own sectarian prejudices.

éirígí chairperson in south Derry, Dominic McGlinchey, takes up the story:

“While we were in the process of replacing the flags stolen on Tuesday night we were approached by members of the PSNI. Initially they told us that they were responding to a complaint from a member of the public relating to men carrying ladders in the town centre. Apparently it takes up to a dozen armed men to investigate this serious crime!

“It wasn’t long before they started to question us with regard to the erection of the flags, telling us that it was an illegal act. But when asked what law made it illegal to fly an Irish tricolour in an Irish town they were unable to answer. Similarly when they were asked whether a large Union Jack flag had permission to be flown in the town they were left stuck for words.

“If further proof were needed that the role and function of British policing in Ireland remains unchanged it was plain for all to see tonight in Magherafelt. While a large Union Jack flies undisturbed 365 days of the year an Irish tricolour is hardly unfurled before a dozen armed men arrive to investigate. And all of this is in a town with a nationalist majority!

“We have made it clear from the outset that we would remove the flags on May 12th to coincide with the anniversary of the final executions of the 1916 leaders. It appears that the thought of the Irish national flag flying in Magherafelt, even for less then three weeks, is just too much for the bigots.

“It is also a sign of the continuing abnormal state of the Six Counties that while the flag of occupation adorns the most prominent buildings in cities and towns, the flying of the Irish national flag sparks hysterical outrage.

“This incident is reminiscent of the worst periods of the Flags and Emblems Act and the recent posturing of unionist councillors is in the same vein as that of Ian Paisley when he encouraged violent assaults on the nationalist community of west Belfast back in 1964. You have to ask the question – Has anything actually changed over the last forty years?

“He was wrong then and they are wrong now.”

Dominic continued: “Unionist death squads and their political allies fly offensive, sectarian flags throughout the Six Counties, and coat-trail, with state assistance, through nationalist areas en masse annually, yet republicans it appears aren’t entitled to remember the martyrs of 1916.

“We are replacing these flags as a matter of principal. We intend to erect our national flag in Magherafelt from April 24 until May 12 of each year from here on in, regardless of interference, hindrance or the offence it might cause to the delicate sensibilities of the bigots.

“Those dates mark the beginning and end dates of the most inspiring period of 20th century Ireland, from the beginning of the Rising until the execution of James Connolly and Seán Mac Diarmada, and we will remember them with pride in the simplest of ways – by flying the flag they fought under.

“We would ask that comrades, friends and supporters attend the upcoming éirígí function on Sunday 4 May, at McNally's Toomebridge to show their defiance of the bigots and their allies in the PSNI.”

www.eirigi.org (http://www.eirigi.org/latest/latest030508.html)

Congratulations to Dominic and his comrades for proving that the PSNI is nothing different from the RUC..:eusa_clap:.....

I suppose the PSNI will now use their breach of the peace law against those who had the audacity to erect the Irish national flag?