The protest theme, in accordance with Valentine's Day was 'No time for Love'. Activists distributed leaflets, held aloft Basque flags and engaged with members of the public.
As the commemoration march for Bob Doyle, a republican veteran of the Spanish Civil War, and who was imprisoned near Donostia (San Sebastían) during the war, the activists lowered their flags in memory of the long life anti fascist fighter.
Proceeding to Dublin's Liberty Hall, members of the public were treated to a series of wonderful speeches from Doyle and his comrades. It is with great dismay this activist learned today of a similar demonstration attacked in Bilbao with 5 persons arrested.
Speaking about the demonstration, Ógra activist Ross Taylor said,
"It is extremely important for us to be out here today on the streets to highlight the ongoing oppression of the Basque people. It is all too easy for Irish people to forget that it wasn't so long ago that the torturers and oppressors were knocking down the doors of men and women in Belfast, Bogside and Bellaghy, similar to the situation today in Euskal Herria.”
“The banning of free press, censorship of political parties and criminalisation of pro-independence parties in Euskal Herria smacks of the dark days of Section 31 censorship in the 26 Counties.”
“We as young republicans poignantly remember the oppression enacted against our comrades in SEGI, and the fact that their leadership still remains in jail so so called 'terrorist' activities. Today, and all throughout Basque solidarity week, we send greetings of friendship and justice to our beleaguered Basque comrades. Jo ta ke irabazi arte! Euskal Herria Askatasuna!!"
2 comments:
Isn’t there the danger that, by arguing that self-determination should apply to the people of the Basque country and at the same time deny that it should be applied to Northern Ireland you might come across as, well, rather hypocritical?
For f.. get out
David Brent.
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