Dublin Solidarity With Basque Trade Unionists And Political Activists

dublin | worker & community struggles and protests | press release Wednesday October 21, 2009 00:32 by Louise Michel - Dublin Basque Solidarity Campaign basquedublin at gmail dot com

Dublin Basque Solidarity Committee and Ógra Shinn Féin organised solidarity protest for last Sunday

Around 20 people held demonstration of solidarity with Basque trade unionists and political activists after Spanish police raid on Basque trade union LAB and the arrest of ten trade union or political activists.

Picket/ demonstration in Dublin to protest the police raid on the Basque trade union LAB and against the pro-Independence Left in general.
Upon hearing of the Spanish police attack on the pro-Independence Left trade union LAB and of the arrest of ten pro-Independence Left political activists, the Dublin Basque Solidarity Committee organised a protest in O’Connell Street, the city’s main street. The protest was organised with the youth organisation Ógra Shinn Féin but was supported by people from a wide range of political orientation both from the Left and from Irish Republicanism.

The score of participants with Irish and Basque flags carried large placards with slogans including: “ End the repression of Basque’s: Freedom of Expression! Freedom of the Press and Radio! Freedom of Assembly!” “Spanish Police Torture Detainees!” “765 Political Prisoners Spread Over Britain and France!” “Jon Anza – ‘disappeared’ since April 2009 – what have you done with him?” “Hands Off the Basque Trade Unions!” “Hands Off the Belfast Basques!”

Various Dublin bus drivers as well as drivers of passing cars and taxis sounded their horns in support and people approached the participants. Among these were tourists from the Spanish state with a mixed reaction. Some Catalans and Asturians expressed their support while a couple of others gave signs of disgust. Included in these were two who crossed the street to confront the protestors, saying that the Basques are “terroristas”. Some of the protestors then shouted “Viva la libertad!” (Long live freedom!) and “Viva la libertad para todos!” (Long live freedom for all!) and when they continued to speak of “terrorists”, they changed their shouts to “Fascistas!” and “Fascistas Espanolistas!” (Spanish hegemonist fascists!). They left, apparently very angry, while the protestors laughed at them.

Towards the end of the protest, the Coordinator of the Dublin Basque Solidarity Committee addressed the participants about the reason for the protest, including the assault on the LAB HQ, which the police had never dared do before, and the arrests, which unfortunately they had done all too often before. He thanked those present for extending the hand of solidarity to the Basque people, for helping the Irish people to understand what happens in the Basque Country and to also show the tourists, including those from the Spanish state, that the Spanish government does wrong to the Basque people.

“International solidarity is really important as the media are trying to conceal what is happening in the Basque Country”, the Coordinator told them, and informed the participants that 37,000 people had marched in protest the preceding day in Donosti/ San Sebastian behind the Basque trade unions’ banner.

The protest in Dublin concluded with the shouting of three slogans: “End the repression in the Basque Country! Freedom for the Basque Country! Hands off the Basque trade unions!”
Ends.