Strabane gets the message 'Free Palestine!'

This June marks the 40th anniversary of the Israeli invasion of the West Bank and Gaza Strip. The subsequent occupation and ‘brutal subjugation of the Palestinian people’ was the subject of a protest by Ógra Shinn Féin in Strabane on Saturday 9th June.

Spokesperson for Ógra Shinn Féin in Strabane, John McDermott, speaking from the protest said,

“Israeli violations of the norms of civilised behaviour include: Ethnic cleansing, land theft, Home demolition, Collective punishment, Prolonged detention without trial, Use of Palestinians, including children, as human shields, and State sponsored murder.”

“Israel pursues these policies with impunity because it is shielded by the UN Security Council veto of the United States and the moral cowardice of the European Union. It is up to us, the ordinary people, 'the people on the street', to force our governments to stop shielding Israel.”

To highlight these injustices Strabane Ógra Shinn Féin held a white line protest in Strabane town centre. John McDermott continued,

“The events happening in Palestine now remind us of our own past. Irish Republicans and Nationalists know only too well the effects of oppression and injustice. We held this protest to raise awareness for the ongoing tyranny experienced in the West bank, and in Palestine as a whole. We received a positive feedback from the people of Strabane, many unaware of what was happening in Palestine, and again, many relating it to past personal experience. We handed out over 300 leaflets, and we feel that the event was an overall success.”

The spokesperson continued,

“While carrying out our peaceful white line picket, we came under heavy surveillance from the PSNI. Two armoured vehicles and two marked Landovers occupied the town centre for the duration of the protest. Activists were videoed and photographed from numerous vehicles. Exactly what the PSNI was trying to achieve by this is beyond me. This was a blatant attempt by the PSNI to provoke the protestors into a reaction, a reaction they did not get. It appears that the local PSNI officers have serious room for improvement if they are to be accepted within the community. Sinn Fein and Ógra Shinn Féin totally condemn this blatant provocation observed on Saturday. We will be consulting with our members on the policing board and will also be taking a case to the Police Ombudsman for investigation.”