Large turn out in Ballyshannon Public Meeting

national | rights, freedoms and repression | news report Tuesday January 20, 2009 23:49 by Peadar O' Donnell - North West Solidarity Network nwsolidarity at yahoo dot com

Peace in Palestine? Public Meeting

There was a large turnout at a Public Meeting in Ballyshannon in County Donegal to support Palestine

Monday 19th January saw a large turnout in Dorrian’s Hotel, Ballyshannon for a public meeting entitled ‘Peace in Palestine?’ The event was organised by North West Solidarity Network, a branch of the Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign, based in Donegal and Leitrim.

Despite the inclement weather, a full audience attended to hear about the situation in Palestine. In attendance were activists involved in campaigns aimed at achieving justice and freedom.

Chairman of the event, Jim McLaughlin, highlighted that the purpose of the event was to provide a glimpse into the actions being taken throughout the region by ordinary people.

The three speakers included Marie Crawley, Chairperson, Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign (IPSC), Veronica Keys, Trocaire and Colm Bryce, Derry Anti-War Movement. The three speakers highlighted the plight of the Palestinian people and different aspects of the work which they have been engaged in to assist in the struggle in Palestine for justice and freedom. Marie Crawley highlighted the work of the IPSC, including the Boycott of Israeli produce. Veronica Keys provided an extremely informative talk about her experiences of the sufferings of Palestinians on a daily basis. She compared the geographical size of Gaza with a population of 1.5 million to Inishowen. The final speaker Colm Bryce spoke of his involvement in the campaign to stop a weapons company, Raytheon, who are directly involved with supplying the Israeli State with weapons, from operating in Derry. Colm had been one of the internationally renowned ‘Raytheon 9’ who occupied and damaged the company offices with the goal of temporarily ceasing business. The Raytheon 9 were charged and prosecuted for criminal damage amounting to £350,000 for their actions. At trial they successfully raised the defence of ‘justification’ on the basis that their actions were a legitimate response to ‘prevent a greater evil’ and they were all acquitted by the jury.

Jim McLaughlin, concluded, “This event was organised to allow a space for people to hear from and engage with people involved in the struggle for a better world. People feel that they are powerless to bring about any change and this event was organised to dispel that myth. The smallest action can act as a beacon of light for people suffering oppression and persecution”.

For further information contact the North West Solidarity Network on nwsolidarity@yahoo.com.