Cllr. McGibbon has questioned why similar coverage is not afforded particularly on BBC and UTV for the annual 1916 Easter Commemorations.
Cllr. McGibbon commented,
“Both BBC and UTV aired a dedicated 30 minute programme of the orange order parades throughout the north, spending considerable time, effort and resources to promote the 12th July parades.”
“There is no similar practice by the BBC and UTV to cater for their Republican and Nationalist audience, by covering the annual Easter 1916 Commemorations which take place annually across Ireland, including the north.”
“With the signing of the Good Friday Agreement, a flourishing peace process and republican’s in government in the assembly; it is an absurdity that our rights, and history are being ignored by these media bodies.”
“In the year ahead Ógra Shinn Féin intend to lobby and campaign to ensure that next year’s Easter 1916 Commemoration’s are afforded the proper media coverage which they deserve. Our rights and our history will not be ignored.”
12 comments:
As someone who had the unpleasant experience of finding myself stuck in the middle of an orange parade on Saturday evening, I was shocked to see the high level of street and underage drinking associated with the event. I feel as though this is a bad example to be setting for our young people on an occasion which is supposed to be a 'religious and cultural celebration'. I was also concerned at the number of unionist death squad flags which formed part of the actual parade and the fact that I observed senior unionist politicians marching nearby.
Liam
As someone who has raised the issue with BBC and UTV in the past it is clear they arent interested in Equality. Out of the two letters i send to both organisations i only recieved one response which was full of waffle and amounted to not much more.
Ógra Activist
You're off your head if you think a celebration of terror,murder and intolerance,as opposed to a celebration of freedoms,civil liberities, history (and the impact it had on British society),and culture will be promoted.
Keep up the bigotry and intolerance ogra,might see one of your members around the Orange halls some time soon eh?
As for the Unionist death squad flags bile.. if you actually took time to look at them you will see that they are battle honours and standards of the 36th ulster division and the regional standards of the ulster volunteer force of 1912 (what an army) who have no connections to the terrorist UVF that exsist today,so good luck with that campaign.
Oh and we'll soon be campaigning that the BBC Promote the annual Somme commemerations and to aknoledge the hard work and effort that goes into making it such a spectacle.
To Ógra activist,
I think the whole point of the article acknowledges the fact that the BBc and UTV both are not interested in equality, and while it is commenable that you wrote a letter to them, just because they send back some drivel does not mean the issue is defeated.
I applaud this initiative and i wish it every success, I would like for nothing more to see, Carrickmore, Milltownm, Cullyhanna and Derry beamed across Ireland on Easter Sunday next year in recognition of Republican History.
I think that on top of letters we should use Section 75 of the Equality legislation, and push this through our MLA's, MP's, TD's, MEP's and Councillors.
We should also lobby other media outlets to support us, and build up strong petitions.
BBc and UTV shoul also be targets themselves, some years back Ógra chained themselves to teh front doors of Havlock house in protest of censorship on the Saoirse campaign.
The possibilities are endless if we put our thinking caps and activist boots on!
Smash censorship and Up the Republic!
Republican Youth Activist
While i understand where the Cllr is comeing from I don't think the question is phrased very well.
To compare the bigoted hatefest that is the Twelfth with our Easter Commemorations is not a good idea.
And to anonymous, what do you make of this dashing marcher with his lovely UFF emblem on his sleeve which has been up on the BBC website for the past 4 days?
Suppose the UFF were around back then as well were they? give me a break
http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/44827000/jpg/_44827030_05f3606d-3653-422f-a239-0df2b093a6db.jpg
Great issue to be raising. Nationalists and Republicans need equality before the media.
Look forward to watching the Easter Commemorations next year on BBC and UTV.
Joe
At anonymous ranting about celebrating terrorism. What are you celebrating on the twelfth? Murdering Irish citizens, so go educate yourself. The Easter Rising was something we HAD to do, for the sake of our nation, you celebrate something you wanted to do and the 400 years of murder, and that's just in Ireland!!
More time, man power and resources need to be applied to Easter commemorations and Republican commemorations in general.
As for anonymous unionist, you are entitled to march, drink, bang your drums and celebrate what loosely passes for a culture in your own communities without forcing it upon others who have no interest. Your 'religious freedoms' which were won during the 'glorious' reformation were at the expense of the majority of Ireland's native people. The penal laws have come to an end in unison with the 12th of July itself. I was interested to here the boasting of the Orange order that all their lodges remain open to practice, whatever it is you practice...sash modeling? On less than half the numbers than 30 years ago. I'm also glad to see that now unionism is losing its tight grip on the north, large businesses choose to remain open in disregard for the 'holiday' period. The bus service likewise and generally causing less disruption for the public.
I would also ask you not to forget about all of the organizations taking part. Organizations and bands aligned to the UDA and UFF also enjoy goose-steping along to your hymns, openly displaying their allegiance on their standards but, you already knew that. Your 'dated' flags fool no one. The UVF 100 years ago were similar to the same scum-bags today using the name. Although, they weren't as loyal in Carson's uniform, threatening 'her majesties government' with civil war? Treason!
Does anyone else see the irony of the 12th celebrations? The victory of a Dutch king over an English one? That's 'loyalism' for you.
Fair play to Ogra for approving that unionists post anyway! Ogra are genuinely against censorship!
funny that you would nitpick over one of the most peacefull 12th of July's in decades,the work that was put in to ensure all pased of peacefull should be praised,the rioting which took place in Republican areas should be condemed by every right-thinking person,but some things never change
PEACEFUL? Maybe according to most of the media. Check this out and then you'll see how peaceful the twelfth was!
http://tinyurl.com/5dgksx
Robs link..http://tinyurl.com/5dgksx
"A teenage girl wearing a Northern Ireland football top was singled out by the attackers at Rossville Street. Condemning the attack, Eamonn McCann, chairman of the Bloody Sunday Trust, said those responsible represented no-one but themselves"
"A vehicle carrying 35 Australian and US passengers was attacked near Dove Gardens in the Bogside on Sunday afternoon while earlier in the day a car was set on fire at Lecky Road flyover. "
I would fully expect you to distance this mindless violence from the peacefull 12th of July celebrations,this has got nothing to do with the 12th, this is mindless Republicans engaging in indiscriminate violence against the Unionist community and tourists who were visiting the area and probably came for the 12th. Not good for the image of the Bogside is it?
I would fully expect you condem this stupidity!
I agree. How could the media call this a peaceful event. That bus company has many old workers who just want peace and quiet. Donegal is a quiet place with amazing people who carry on with their daily lives. It is a disgrace that these people could do this as a way of 'celebrating' the twelfth. It's a complete disgrace.
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