Strength through Unity

Hundreds of Ógra activists and dozens of delegates attended Sunday’s Sinn Féin Extraordinary Ard Fheis.

The week previous to the Ard Fheis, Ógra Shinn Féin organised an Extraordinary National Congress at which they adopted a radical new policy document which called for policing to be decoupled from the state and proposed the establishment of municipal policing structures.

At the Extraordinary Congress, Ógra urged delegates to vote against the Ard Comhairle motion but to remain united regardless of the outcome.

Gerry Adams addressed part of his speech at the Ard Fheis towards Ógra stating,

“Some of you may disagree. That is perfectly acceptable. For example Ógra disagrees with us on this issue. I wish they didn't but I respect their position and I especially commend their resolve to accept the outcome of this Ard Fheis debate.”

Sinn Féin delegates voted overwhelmingly for the Ard Comhairle motion.

Speaking on the outcome of the debate, National Organiser of Ógra, Barry McColgan said,

“We had a very comradely robust debate at the Ard Fheis, many Ógra activists from across the country spoke very articulately in opposition to the Ard Comhairle motion, stating many strategic and practical reasons.”

“While the position adopted was historically groundbreaking, the real test now is going to be in the practical implementation of the motion, and it is now that the real struggle on policing begins.”

“Ógra activists spoke in favour of the alternate Ógra policing policy which aims to decouple policing from the state and to deal with policing in a revolutionary and stand alone context as one Ógra delegate said, ‘are we going to support and endorse a force that actively works against our objectives, or to approach the issue of policing in a progressive way, not limiting ourselves to the staid old model of a monolithic police force.”

“We stated clearly that Ógra would respect the outcome of the Ard Fheis and remain united. Ógra went into the Ard Fheis as part of the Republican Movement, and came out as part of the Republican Movement.”

“Ógra adopted a position at the Ard Fheis, and another position was voted on, but that is the strength of our movement – we have the confidence and strength to critically debate and take opposing positions.”

“Unity and cohesion is tantamount to the successful conclusion of our struggle – regardless of the decision that was reached - a mountain of struggle remains ahead and only one movement is going to achieve our objectives – as Francis Hughes put it, ‘Victory to the Provos!”