Cllr Johnny McGibbon completes successful tour of the USA

The month of December saw Ógra activist and Sinn Féin Councillor in Lurgan, Johnny McGibbon, visit the USA in a 2 week tour of 6 major cities. Below Johnny talks briefly about his time in the US and the experiences and events he took part in……..


In December I had the honour of representing Sinn Féin in the Mid-west area of the United States. I had the opportunity to travel to 6 major cities in the region, and meet with some extremely interesting people and organisations.

The tour was sponsored by long term Republican support group in the United States, Irish Northern Aid; who organised public meetings and events throughout my stay in the mid-west.

I began my trip in Chicago, Illinois and spend around 4 days in the ‘Windy City’. (I’m sure this is because of the strong winds coming in from it’s situation right on the edge of Lake Michigan; although I was informed it’s nickname originated from the fact that most of their politicians are full of hot air!). This gave me my first look into American society and into the Irish Republican community in the United States.

The first event I attended was with the Arab American Action Network. I attended a workshop with teenagers from the inner city area of Chicago, who were mostly of Palestinian descent. We discussed the similarities between Ireland and Palestine, and also discussed the social conditions in which young people are living with in the United States today. This was a quite humbling experience, and was really when I fully realized the opportunity I had been given.

On the same evening as this workshop I attended a local awards dinner for social justice groups working in Chicago. The awards ceremony honoured individuals and groups would had played a major role in their community over the last year. Many of the awards were given to social justice groups and activists who had stood up against huge property developers in their neighbourhoods. The event was fittingly entitled “The People’s Thanks Giving”. They even asked me to speak briefly about Political Prisoners in Ireland and internationally.

Before I left Chicago I was invited to speak at a public event organized by Irish Northern Aid. These public events were organized in each of the cities I visited. These were the main meetings to discuss specifically what was happening in Ireland, and what was specifically happening in the political process Republicans are now engaging in. I tried my best to update people on our progress, and explain what Republicans are doing in the political institutions in Ireland, north and south.

All these meetings produced interesting discussion and I was pleased to find how up to date INA activists are. (Considering the poor press coverage of the situation in Ireland today.)
I continued on my tour doing College speaking events in Detroit, Cleveland and Grand Rapids, Michigan; as well as the public INA events, of course. College events proved to be somewhat different from the normal INA events. The College events saw people of all ages and backgrounds, coming to events to hear about Ireland. While many were of Irish descent, many also pointed out that they had no connection with Ireland or the struggle for independence. Yet I was overwhelmed by the sheer feeling of injustice, the students felt towards the situation in Ireland.

Throughout my stay in the United States, I met with many Irish American activists. Wherever I went I was treated to a fantastic welcome, and great hospitality. I had the opportunity to spend time with comrades who led our support base in the US throughout the latest phase of our struggle, and who still continue to do so today. Irish American Activists, like Irish Northern Aid, are as determined and as committed as ever to building, and campaigning for a United Ireland in the USA.

The Spirit of Freedom most definitely still burns amongst Irish-America.