All Campaigns subcategories:
Youth keywords:
Croxteth Comprehensive School (1)
Educational Maintenance Allowance (4)
Policing
Highlight keywords |
Print this article
Search site for keywords: Ireland - State - Socialist - Socialist Party - Solidarity - Police - Trial - Gama - Prison - Policing - Protest - Paul Murphy - Birmingham Six - CWI
Gagged Jobstown defendants defiantly expose Irish state
Marching in defence of the Jobstown protesters, photo Socialist Party Ireland (Click to enlarge)
Conor Payne, Socialist Party (CWI Ireland)
The 'Assembly for Justice' in Liberty Hall, Dublin on 1 April was an inspiring display of working class solidarity with those facing trial for 'false imprisonment' of austerity politician Joan Burton while peacefully protesting in Jobstown.
In the days running up to the event, the Director of Public Prosecutions tried to gag the seven defendants up on trial on 24 April - in reality, to shut down the campaign. The assembly was a defiant response to this attack on free speech.
700 attended, filling the main hall and two overflow venues. The atmosphere was electric. The defendants themselves appeared on the stage wearing gags, representing the restrictions imposed on what they could say at the event.
Jobstown protester Kay Keane said: "On that day, I didn't go simply because of the water charges. I went because I had seen my community devastated by the cuts that [Joan Burton] imposed."
National Bus and Rail Union rep Stephen Nugent also spoke. His delegation of striking Bus Éireann workers received a standing ovation as they returned to their picket lines.
In 2005, Turkish workers in Ireland - super-exploited by Gama Construction for only €2.20 an hour - struck with the support of the Socialist Party. They won up to €40 million of wages they were owed.
In a fantastic gesture of solidarity, Gama workers donated the €3,000 remaining from their strike fund to #JobstownNotGuilty. The rally raised over €10,000 for the campaign.
Vincent McGrath of the 'Rossport Five' spoke of the state harassment their community in North Mayo had faced for standing up to Shell and its gas pipeline.
Another highlight was Paddy Hill of the 'Birmingham Six' - who knows about real 'false imprisonment'. Paddy spent 16 years in jail for a crime he didn't commit. He pointed out he had spent longer waiting in line in prison canteens than Joan Burton spent 'kidnapped' in Jobstown!
Jobstown defendant Paul Murphy, a Solidarity TD (MP) and member of the Socialist Party, pointed out that the real nature of the state had been exposed.
The surveillance of anti-water charges protesters, the witch hunt against police whistleblowers, and now the mass fabrication of breathalyser tests show the police are far from a neutral force for good. The Socialist Party calls for democratic control of policing, accountable to working class communities.
The state functions as defender of the super-rich 1%. The increased repression of protest is linked to the political crisis facing the capitalist establishment.
The Socialist Party fights for a fundamentally different type of society, planned under democratic control of the working class, where wealth and power are in the hands of the majority, not a capitalist elite.
To send messages of support, and for details on affiliating to the solidarity campaign, email [email protected]
- Read more on the campaign at jobstownnotguilty.com
Donate to the Socialist Party
Finance appeal
The coronavirus crisis has laid bare the class character of society in numerous ways. It is making clear to many that it is the working class that keeps society running, not the CEOs of major corporations.
The results of austerity have been graphically demonstrated as public services strain to cope with the crisis.
The government has now ripped up its 'austerity' mantra and turned to policies that not long ago were denounced as socialist. But after the corona crisis, it will try to make the working class pay for it, by trying to claw back what has been given.
- The Socialist Party's material is more vital than ever, so we can continue to report from workers who are fighting for better health and safety measures, against layoffs, for adequate staffing levels, etc.
- When the health crisis subsides, we must be ready for the stormy events ahead and the need to arm workers' movements with a socialist programme - one which puts the health and needs of humanity before the profits of a few.
Inevitably, during the crisis we have not been able to sell the Socialist and raise funds in the ways we normally would.
We therefore urgently appeal to all our viewers to donate to our Fighting Fund.
LATEST POSTS
12 May Stop Israeli state brutality
 |
9 May Post-election meetings
15 May Birmingham Socialist Party: How can we fight for socialist change and a new workers' party?
17 May Oxfordshire & Aylesbury Socialist Party: The role of the state
18 May Bristol North Socialist Party: Liverpool - history of socialist struggle
CONTACT US
Phone our national office on 020 8988 8777
Email: [email protected]
Locate your nearest Socialist Party branch Text your name and postcode to 07761 818 206
Regional Socialist Party organisers:
Eastern: 079 8202 1969
East Mids: 077 3797 8057
London: 075 4018 9052
North East: 078 4114 4890
North West 079 5437 6096
South West: 077 5979 6478
Southern: 078 3368 1910
Wales: 079 3539 1947
West Mids: 024 7655 5620
Yorkshire: 078 0983 9793
ABOUT US
ARCHIVE
2020
2019
2018
2017
2016
2015
2014
2013
2012
2011
2010
2009
2008
2007
2006
2005
2004
2003
2002
2001
2000
1999