Prisoners for Palestine Hunger-Strike approaches fourth week
LMIU EC member speaks to supporters outside HM Prison New Hall, Wakefield, one of seven solidarity protests (on weekend of 15/16 November 25).
A Chairde, Comrades, it is an honour, as always to speak with you here today as an Irish Socialist Republican opposed to the ongoing occupation of part of our own land, and equally, to the ongoing occupation of Palestine. We send our solidarity to all those around the world who are engaged in the struggle for self-determination, freedom and justice, which includes everyone here today.
A hunger strike is a powerful stand. It is somewhat fitting that I stand here today to speak because the first mentions of using hunger as a form of protest came from Ireland. In the early medieval period, those who were wronged would fast on the literal doorstep of those who had wronged them, and there was no greater shame than to have a person fast for justice outside your home.
The Hunger Strike has been a powerful symbol in the Irish struggle for freedom, right down to our day. Whether it was the death of Thomas Ashe from forcible feeding in 1917, Terrence MacSwiney in Brixton Prison in 1920, or Michael Gaughan, also from forcible feeding, in Parkhurst Prison 1974, Irish republicans have endured the Hunger Strike repeatedly, as our prisoners sought justice and dignity through protest using the only weapon at their disposal, their own bodies. Not 10 miles away from here, in Wakefield Prison, Frank Stagg died on Hunger Strike in February 1976. We have laid a wreath for him each year that we have been here, and we will be there next February again. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a n-anamacha. ( May they rest in peace) Their sacrifices will never be forgotten.
The most significant Hunger Strike in our history was that of 1981. From March to August of that awful year, 10 young men died, seeking decriminalisation, just treatment and restoration of political status. The similarities to here, today, are clear. In both cases, a list of just demands. 5 in 1981, 6 today. And at the heart of the protest, a refusal to allow legitimate political struggle and resistance to occupation to be criminalised. A refusal to accept the label 'terrorist'. Bobby Sands, the leader of the '81 hunger strike wrote 'They will not criminalise us, rob us of our true identity, steal our individualism, depoliticise us, churn us out as systemised, institutionalised, decent law-abiding robots.' 'Never will they label our liberation struggle as criminal.'
Proscribing Palestine Action sets a chilling precedent for free expression in Britain. Maximum pressure must be brought to bear upon the Home Secretary to reverse this politically motivated decision using the deproscription mechanism in the Terrorism Act.
Joe McDonnell, 30 years old, a father of 2, was the fifth man to die in 1981. Joe is best remembered today for the ballad written about him. In this ballad the lyrics talk of Joe being 'imprisoned without crime or without trial'. This is the same fate faced by our hunger strikers today. Prolonged imprisonment without conviction. This is clearly, clearly unjust.
The chorus of the same song begins with the line 'and you dare to call me a terrorist, while you look down your gun'. That Keir Starmer can label anti-imperialist political activists as terrorists while being intrinsically complicit in a barbaric genocide, is no mistake; it's about controlling the dominant narrative. Keir Starmer, who just this week has been directly named in a UN report detailing complicity in genocide, is a vital cog in the Zionist war machine. The Zionist war machine in turn being a vital tool of western imperialism to keep West Asia in turmoil whilst they plunder it's resources to line their pockets with its vast quantities of enormous wealth.
I wish to give my full support to all of the activists engaged in this protest, obviously most notably Heba, imprisoned behind these walls here. Interned without conviction for one whole year. Taken hundreds of miles away from her family and support base. This is cruel and unjust. To say the least.
I send my solidarity to all of the activists engaged in this struggle, and to all of those who have been persecuted or imprisoned for their political beliefs.
Our cause is just. In the words of Bobby Sands, Tiocfaidh ar La a chairde, our day will come. Never give up, never lose hope.