Post by phoenix2006 on Apr 15, 2006 20:50:19 GMT
I found the following statement on Up the Ra forum. I thought it would good to allow people here to read it.
The Concerned Group for Republican Prisoners Western, Central and Eastern Offices in the United States send solidarity greetings to our members, supporters and friends throughout the world on the 90th anniversary of the 1916 Proclamation of the Irish Republic.
We especially send solidarity to the Prisoners of War still incarcerated for their political beliefs and to their families who endure extreme hardship for those beliefs.
Within these brave Irishmen and Irishwomen still burns the flame that was ignited by the historical events that occurred in Dublin in 1916. At four minutes past noon on Easter Monday, 1916, a sudden hush fell over O’Connell Street. From the steps of the General Post Office Patrick Pearse read the proclamation of the Irish Republic These men and women carry the legacy of 1916 with pride and dedication and will never desist until there is no more British Rule in Ireland
Pearse and Connolly, with full knowledge that they were engaged in a suicide mission, marched up the main street, Sackville Street to the British and O'Connell Street to the Irish, halted in front of the General Post Office and barricaded themselves in. They sent back to Liberty Hall for a flag which arrived in a brown paper bag, a green flag with the golden harp and the words in Irish "The Irish Republic" and a second flag: a tricolor of green, white and orange. They flew together over the GPO along with the Irish Citizens Army's flag: the Starry Plough.
90 years on the cause for which those men died has still not been accomplished but there are still men and women who will rally to the cause and resist the occupation of part of our country by any means necessary, these men born of Mother Ireland and instilled with the memory of our patriot dead will never surrender or accept compromise with the British occupiers, it is their right to fight the British as it has been the right of every Irishman and Irishwoman in the various military campaigns, It was The United Irishmen's right, It was The Leaders of 1916’s right.
It is the right of the men and women who hold to the ideals of Irish Republicanism to-day to resist a foreign powers occupation.
We in the CGRP in the US pledge our support to the Prisoners and their families and realizing that we also have an obligation to carry on the proud tradition recognized in the 1916 proclamation of supporting Irish Republicans in all their struggles against British and Free State aggression. We wish our friends and comrades in Ireland to know that Ireland still has exiled children that will not abandon them.
We oppose the Stormont Agreement because we feel it strengthens Britain’s illegal claim in the 6 counties, it cements partition of Ireland, it dilutes Republicanism, it enhances Sectarianism, strengthens the religious divide, and finally because it's no better then the treaty in 1921.
We will resist all attempts to portray normality within the occupied 6 counties and will challenge all attempts to criminalize Republicans who stay true to the vision of those in 1916 that went out in the full knowledge that their sacrifice might unite a country, That day is still to come.
We end with the words of James Connolly at his Court Martial.:
“We went out to break the connection between this country and the British Empire and to establish an Irish Republic. We believe that the call we thus issued to the people of Ireland was a holier calling and a holier cause than any call issued to them during this war having any connection with the war. We succeeded in proving that Irishmen are ready to die endeavouring to win for Ireland their national rights which the British Government has been asking then to die to win for Belgium. As long as that remains the case the cause of Irish Freedom is safe. Believing that the British Government has no right in Ireland, never had any right in Ireland, and never can have any right in Ireland. The presence in any one generation of even a respectable minority of Irishmen ready to die to affirm that truth makes that Government for ever an usurpation, and a crime against human progress. I personally thank God that I have lived to see the day when thousands of Irishmen and boys, and hundreds of Irish women & girls, were equally ready to affirm that truth and seal it with their lives if necessary”
Beir Bua
The Concerned Group for Republican Prisoners Western, Central and Eastern Offices in the United States send solidarity greetings to our members, supporters and friends throughout the world on the 90th anniversary of the 1916 Proclamation of the Irish Republic.
We especially send solidarity to the Prisoners of War still incarcerated for their political beliefs and to their families who endure extreme hardship for those beliefs.
Within these brave Irishmen and Irishwomen still burns the flame that was ignited by the historical events that occurred in Dublin in 1916. At four minutes past noon on Easter Monday, 1916, a sudden hush fell over O’Connell Street. From the steps of the General Post Office Patrick Pearse read the proclamation of the Irish Republic These men and women carry the legacy of 1916 with pride and dedication and will never desist until there is no more British Rule in Ireland
Pearse and Connolly, with full knowledge that they were engaged in a suicide mission, marched up the main street, Sackville Street to the British and O'Connell Street to the Irish, halted in front of the General Post Office and barricaded themselves in. They sent back to Liberty Hall for a flag which arrived in a brown paper bag, a green flag with the golden harp and the words in Irish "The Irish Republic" and a second flag: a tricolor of green, white and orange. They flew together over the GPO along with the Irish Citizens Army's flag: the Starry Plough.
90 years on the cause for which those men died has still not been accomplished but there are still men and women who will rally to the cause and resist the occupation of part of our country by any means necessary, these men born of Mother Ireland and instilled with the memory of our patriot dead will never surrender or accept compromise with the British occupiers, it is their right to fight the British as it has been the right of every Irishman and Irishwoman in the various military campaigns, It was The United Irishmen's right, It was The Leaders of 1916’s right.
It is the right of the men and women who hold to the ideals of Irish Republicanism to-day to resist a foreign powers occupation.
We in the CGRP in the US pledge our support to the Prisoners and their families and realizing that we also have an obligation to carry on the proud tradition recognized in the 1916 proclamation of supporting Irish Republicans in all their struggles against British and Free State aggression. We wish our friends and comrades in Ireland to know that Ireland still has exiled children that will not abandon them.
We oppose the Stormont Agreement because we feel it strengthens Britain’s illegal claim in the 6 counties, it cements partition of Ireland, it dilutes Republicanism, it enhances Sectarianism, strengthens the religious divide, and finally because it's no better then the treaty in 1921.
We will resist all attempts to portray normality within the occupied 6 counties and will challenge all attempts to criminalize Republicans who stay true to the vision of those in 1916 that went out in the full knowledge that their sacrifice might unite a country, That day is still to come.
We end with the words of James Connolly at his Court Martial.:
“We went out to break the connection between this country and the British Empire and to establish an Irish Republic. We believe that the call we thus issued to the people of Ireland was a holier calling and a holier cause than any call issued to them during this war having any connection with the war. We succeeded in proving that Irishmen are ready to die endeavouring to win for Ireland their national rights which the British Government has been asking then to die to win for Belgium. As long as that remains the case the cause of Irish Freedom is safe. Believing that the British Government has no right in Ireland, never had any right in Ireland, and never can have any right in Ireland. The presence in any one generation of even a respectable minority of Irishmen ready to die to affirm that truth makes that Government for ever an usurpation, and a crime against human progress. I personally thank God that I have lived to see the day when thousands of Irishmen and boys, and hundreds of Irish women & girls, were equally ready to affirm that truth and seal it with their lives if necessary”
Beir Bua