RNU - Protest Report & Statement - End Monarchism

international | anti-capitalism | press release Sunday May 22, 2011 00:55 by Republican Network for Unity - Republican Network For Unity

On Tuesday, May 17th 2011 the Republican Network for Unity along with supporters marched from Connolly Train Station to Lower abbey Street in Dublin to express their disgust at the British Queen in Ireland.

It was here that the republican activists were denied access to O’Connell Street by the Irish State and British Queens police force (An Garda Síochána) who tried to kettle the demonstrators into a confined space. The activists were given no reason as to why they were being singled out and not allowed access to O’Connell Street.

Having manoeuvred out onto the main road, the activists then staged an impromptu protest which resulted in the Luas being halted in its tracks.

The activists then made their way towards the Garden of Remembrance and marched up along the back streets of O’Connell Street.

Upon arriving at Dorset Street (the closest the activists could get to the Garden of Remembrance that was possibly achievable) the protesters were then met again by another wall of the States police force.

RNU witnessed the Gardí indiscriminately spray protesters with pepper spray, attack protestors, the denial of residents to pass through their barricades, and the devious attempts to separate protestors from their comrades.

When the Imperialist Monarch was approaching the Garden of Remembrance, more of the States Police Force arrived on the scene and then proceeded to forcefully push the peaceful protesters back down Dorset Street.

When the protesters refused to comply, the heavily clad riot squad were called in who then began to indiscriminately beat the crowd of protesters into submission. Both young and old, male and female felt the brunt of the heavy handed tactics from the menacing riot squad.

Innocent bystanders were also singled out by the State Police who then began to attack and lay down baton blows like they were gone out of fashion. One such bystander, Mark Thompson, a member of the “Justice for the Forgotten” was passing through trying to avoid the baton wielding maniacs and get out of the way. Fortunately a member of the RNU was close by and together with other republicans who were also present, went to his aid and prevented the riot squad from causing him any serious harm.

Further proof that the riot squad were out of control was provided when RNU’s National Secretary was viciously assaulted by a member of the Gardí, whilst escorting an elderly member of the community down the street.

A young woman was also viciously assaulted by 3 members of the heavily clad riot squad who pinned her to the ground while proceeding to kneel on the back of her neck. When her young friend saw what was happening she quickly came to her friends’ assistance and was also viciously assaulted. Both were subsequently arrested without any crime committed.

The Republican Network for Unity condemns the tactics used by the State Police on peaceful protesters and call for independent monitors to be put in place to counteract against any form of police brutality at any future protests.

On the 18th of May 2011 the Republican Network for Unity also held a peaceful demonstration on Dublin’s busy Dame Street as the British Monarch made her way to, Dublin Castle.

The activists received a good reception from many of the onlookers, despite the Medias spin on things that all Irish citizens were in favour of this visit. Many people who passed by vented their anger and frustration at the visit and congratulated our activists for making a stand.

End Monarchism

During the British Monarchs ‘visit’ to Ireland, the true colours of the ruling powers and the States militia have so brightly shone through. We have seen how they (ruling powers) have favoured a blue-blooded hierarchy over their own people.

We watched as the Gestapo Police Force (An Garda Síochána) took control of our streets with absolute authoritarian power. And we also saw once again the ‘hired assassins’ of the Crown take up positions on rooftops and church steeples in and around Dublin City, waiting for the opportune moment to fill the bodies of unsuspecting demonstrators with bullets if they dare stepped into the ‘kill zone.’

Our gallant martyrs, who fought and died in the revolutionary struggle for socialism and national self determination, were betrayed by the grotesque perversion of their memories and besmirched by the institutions who murdered them all those years ago.

It is also this very same Monarchy that has self-indulged on the vitals of labour thus causing mass poverty and hunger of epidemic proportions for millions of people worldwide. Its gift to society is one of gluttony and greed and only exists by the preservation of the detrimental suffering inflicted upon the working class.

And while the Irish Gombeen Government continues to collaborate with the Imperialist British Monarchy, Ireland will forever remain a thread bare Nation for the many thousands of working class families across the divide.

This State ‘visit’ by the British monarch will go down in history as one of the many battles of the oppressed against oppressor as a fight against wars of conquest and colonialism and as a fight for sovereignty and true democracy against neoliberal agendas designed to suppress the workers of this country.

Until Britain and her institutions are completely removed and liquidated from Ireland, the revolutionary struggle must carry on in the name of National self determination and economic independence.

Statement ends.