Screening of Occupation 101 in St Marys

On Wednesday 17th November St Mary’s Sinn Féin held an event within the college to give their fellow students an insight into the brutality and devastation caused by the Israeli occupation of the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

They held a film showing of the highly controversial film 'Occupation 101' which is based on the Israeli/Palestinian conflict. The event was well attended which made it obvious that many Irish students are highly supportive and sympathetic to the Palestinian people and their cause. Dr Peter Collins, a history lecturer from St Mary’s and from the Friends of Palestine Group spoke briefly before the film, highlighting the importance of the campaigns for justice for the Palestinian people and also highlighted the importance of raising public awareness about the human rights abuses in the occupied territories. Another member of the Friends of Palestine group also spoke of the boycott of Israeli goods and urged students to take part in this.

Speaking after the event Orla McNamara from St Mary’s Sinn Féin said "We in SMU SF are thrilled to see so many people here today who have showed an interest in the film and who have left the room today more aware of the violations of international law and the historical causes of the injustices to the Palestinians. We in Sinn Féin have consistently raised the principles and lessons that republicans have learned from the Irish experience in relation to other struggles for national self-determination around the world and while no two conflicts are the same there are nonetheless broad principles which can be helpful in all conflict resolution processes. We in Sinn Féin believe the international community must exert the utmost pressure on Israel to abide by the countless UN resolutions it is currently violating, and to international law and standards of human rights".

St Mary's Sinn Féin will be working side by side various human rights groups to show their solidarity with the Palestinian people throughout this university term and the next. As more people become aware of the deliberate deceptions of those who have plunged the world into global conflict, the voices of dissent are growing louder. This impressive film shown by St Marys Sinn Féin Cumann today is a must see for those interested in gaining a deeper understanding of current global realities and injustices and St Marys SF would like to thank everyone who made the event a success on the day.