Report on March to Prison

A march was organised at very short notice down to Wheatfield prison this evening. Around 250 people took part.

The protest was in solidarity with the six people in prison at the moment for their role in anti-bin tax blockades. All six of the jailed were involved in the South Dublin campaign against the bin tax and most are from the Tallaght area.

It started in Palmerstown, and wound its way down to the prison. A small group of people from the Ballyfermot campaign was waiting to join the protest along the route.

The streets echoed to chants of "No way, We Won't Pay" and "Axe the Double Tax" as the march went past. Relatives of the jailed led the march, carrying the South Dublin anti-bin tax campaign banner.

Other banners present included those of the Fingal campaign, the Ballyfermot campaign, the Socialist Party and UCD Students Union.

At the prison, Socialist Party representatives Joe Higgins and Clare Daly spoke, along with a number of relatives of those in prison, Brid Smith from the Ballyfermot campaign and Mick Murphy. Murphy is the Tallaght coordinator of the anti-bin tax campaign and he is due to be sentenced on Monday.

Interestingly there was absolutely no visible Sinn Fein presence on the march. Sinn Fein in Tallaght have been very reluctant to get involved in the campaign and one of their local councillors called on peope to pay their tax.

Various people who had been involved in organising the march reported that council officials had been out systematically removing posters organising the march only a few hours after they had been put up. In the circumstances this was a very creditable turn out.

Protest marches to the prison are planned on each Saturday until the prisoners are out.