Ógra Shinn Féin Launch A.R.I.S.E Campaign

Ógra Shinn Feins new Broad Anti Imperialist Campaign was recently launched at their Congress by National Organiser Barry McColgan.

A.R.I.S.E

Anti Racism Imperialism Sectarianism Exploitation

Over the next 6 months Ógra Shinn Féin will be actively engaged in Broad Anti Imperialist campaign.

The campaign will be called A.R.I.S.E, an acronym meaning Anti Racism Imperialism Sectarianism Exploitation.

We believe this is an apt name for the campaign as we are calling on people to arise against Imperialism and all the by products of its destructive and divisive legacy.

Also the aspiration of building a Broad Anti Imperialist Front is one of our National Strategic Objectives. This aspiration has never fully been realised and the evidence of that is witnessed today in the various anti war and progressive/left groups throughout Ireland.

When they are rightly calling for War Planes out of Shannon and Aldergrove, when they are justifiably demanding British troops out of Iraq and Afghanistan, where is the mention of occupied Ireland.

We believe the failure to oppose the illegal occupation in our own country, ultimately flaws and discredits any Anti-Imperialist Campaign in the eyes of the Irish and Internationally.

We believe that a true Broad Anti-Imperialist Front can only be effective and credible when they openly challenge Imperialism in all its evil manifestations, whether that be in Iraq or Ireland.

Sometimes broad campaigns can be so broad that it’s hard to have a particular focus on any issue.

In order to avoid this, we are introducing a new focus to the campaign each month.

The Anti-Imperialist campaign will cover many issues, it will cover prisoners, both our own Republican prisoners, but also Internationally like the plight of the Miami 5, Guantanamo Bay, Inaki de Juana and Leonard Peltier.

We will campaign against racism and sectarianism at home but also highlighting how Imperialism has developed and fostered racist and sectarian division around the world in order to divide and rule.

We will campaign for workers rights and against exploitation like in Rossport, exposing the domestic and multinational corporations who grow richer of the back of Slave Labour and Economic Imperialism.

We will campaign against the very obvious manifestations of Imperialism, their illegal occupation of Iraq, Lebanon, Palestine, Afghanistan, Malvinas and of course Ireland.

We have 6 months to raise and to impact on this issue – this must be a campaign which is recognised across Ireland and the World.

How do we highlight the issues?

We mobilise in the National Anti-Imperialist Rallies, we organise protests, we join broad Anti-Imperialist groups where available and where not we form our own, we provide information to the masses through thousands of leaflets and the internet,we use stickers we write opinion pieces and letters for publications everywhere, organise public meetings, debates and social nights and of course to assert our national rights and to highlight the folly of partition, let us come back here next year, safe in the knowledge that we have returned every single Red post Box in the North back to its rightful shade of green.

The campaign begins now. We must rise to the challenge, take this campaign to the streets and countryside, gathering our inspiration from our fallen comrades and build a truly effective Broad Anti Imperialist Front.

ARISE comrades!

Tiocfaidh ar la!




ARISE Campaign Timeline

Nov-Dec: Local launches of campaign/Prisoners/Political Policing

Jan: Rossport/Shell to Sea

Feb: Racism/Sectarianism

March: Imperialism in Ireland –(Raytheon, Shorts, Demil, Shannon, Green Post Box etc)

April: International Imperialism – (Iraq, Palestine, Afghanistan, Lebanon etc)

May: Workers Rights (May Day) Exploitation

June: Equality - Feminism