Jan 2013: 1,000s March for Justice on Bloody Sunday anniversary

March

The 2013 Bloody Sunday March For Justice had the theme ‘End Impunity’.

Despite a wet, windy, wintery day around 3500 people braved the elements to march in solidarity with the victims of Bloody Sunday and other injustices.  The march followed the usual route with the numbers growing steadily as it passed through Creggan and the Brandywell.

Rally

At the march approached the Free Derry Wall, wreathes were laid at the Bloody Sunday memorial.  The rally platform was chaired by Kate Nash. Damien Donaghy read the names of the dead and wounded from January 1972.  Bernadette McAliskey was the main speaker.  Paddy Nash then lead the crowd singing of the classic Civil Rights song:  “We Shall Overcome”

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Bernadette McAliskey addressing Rally  on Sunday 27th Jan 2013

Films and Panel Discussions

This years events included film screenings and panel discussions on the themes of “Coverup” and those in power acting with “End Impunity”.  In addition to Bloody Sunday itself,  these discussions focused on an attack on picketing miners at Orgreave during the 1984 miner strike in Britain, the Hillsborough football stadium disaster in Sheffield when 96 Liverpool fans were crushed to death due to inadequate safety and crowd management provision on the day, the Ballymurphy Massacre when 11 people where killed by the British Army over three days in August 1971 in Belfast, and the coverup of serial child sex-abuse by the Catholic Church in the Irish Government.  Every seat was taken in the minor hall in Pilots Row for these discussions.  Videos of the highlights of these events will be published in the coming two weeks.

Drama

On Saturday night we staged Ailliliú Fionnuala the new drama by Donal O’Kelly on the scandal that has been playing out with impunity in Rossport.  In Rossport for some 10 years now the local community have been under occupation by Shell and the Garda as they courageously and non-violently fight for their human rights. This is a vital struggle we should all be concerned with.  In addition to the common wealth of the Irish people being given away to Shell/Statoil for the taking, its being done in scant regard to the health & safety of the people whose lives will be most affected by the processing of the resources.  Those who were there saw genius at work.  Ailliliú Fionnuala weaves a magical tail that has you laughing one moment and grimacing the next as it cuts right to the democratic heart of the issue.  Its a must see that is currently being performed across Ireland and we hope to see it back in Derry later in the year.