Opening of new Woodie's DIY store in Limerick hijacked by IPSC protestors

limerick | rights, freedoms and repression | news report Thursday July 26, 2007 17:15 by Sean Clinton - Ireland-Palestine Solidarity Campaign

Grafton Group plc red-faced over trade with Apartheid Israel

The Ireland-Palestine Solidarity Campaign is pleased to announce that this morning's opening of new Woodie's DIY store in Limerick was hijacked by its activists.

All of the razzamatazz, live music blaring out over the crowded car park, clowns and give-away goodie bags for the hordes queuing for the official opening of the new Woodie's DIY store in Limerick could not hide the fact that Grafton Group plc are profiteering from trade with Apartheid Israel. Red-faced store managers and security personnel scurried frantically as activists from the Limerick and Galway branches of the Ireland-Palestine Solidarity Campaign (IPSC) and noted anti war activist, Edward Horgan, appeared carrying large placards and handing out fliers to the crowds waiting for the opening. A photographer snapped pictures as the shoppers, bemused by the embarrassment of the store management, snatched the fliers to find out what the fuss was all about.

The demonstrators were asked to leave by the store manager but they refused and maintained a highly visible presence at the entrance to the store for over an hour. Before ending the protest, one of the IPSC members met with the manager to explain that Grafton Group plc is one of Ireland's largest stockists of goods manufactured in Apartheid Israel and that the company's policy of profiteering from apartheid contravenes the groups corporate social responsibility policy outlined on their own web site.
Grafton Group plc can expect more of the same actions in the months ahead as the global campaign of boycott, divestment and sanctions against Apartheid Israel gathers pace.