Protest – Slugger O'Toole

Where are the activists?

Jay Burbank on October 1, 2020, 8:19 am

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Recently I have been reading quite extensively about the period between 1960-69. In Derry the bubble of ‘bottled resentment’ was spilling over into near riot and civil breakdown well before the establishment of NICRA in 1967. Hume was very active in the street politics of this time, however he didn’t enter elected office until 1969 when he beat the long-standing figure of nationalism Eddie McAteer. On his defeat he conceded that the ‘old guard’ of nationalism had been replaced by …

Methinks thou does not protest enough…

Patrick Murdock on January 22, 2019, 12:02 pm

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Last Tuesday as the MP’s voted overwhelmingly to reject Theresa Mays’s Brexit deal, I voiced my support of the People’s Vote by attending the protests in Parliament Square which was happening as the votes were cast in Westminster. As well as the large vocal crowd that had gathered, I listened to a number of speakers voice their Brexit anger with speakers ranging from the usual Politicians and Celebrities but also frontline NHS staff and factory workers. Two students from Belfast …

The Trump Protests – The personal, the political, and the possible…

Dave Thompson on July 20, 2018, 11:05 am

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For the record, I didn’t travel to London to protest at Trump’s visit to the UK. But when large scale protests are taking place literally within chanting distance of your hotel room, then I wasn’t going to miss the chance to join in. The first protest, led by the Trump baby balloon (not overly impressive in the, em, plastic), had just made its way into Parliament Square as we arrived. I was immediately struck not only by the diversity of …

Cartoon – Irish water leaves a sour aftertaste on the public palate

Brian Spencer on November 3, 2014, 8:26 am

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“Ah, Irish water? Very expensive high notes with a smack of bonus. Sour aftertaste on the public palate!” Brian SpencerBrian is a writer, artist, political cartoonist and legal blogger. Actively tweeting from @brianjohnspencr. More information here: http://www.brianjohnspencer.com/ www.brianjohnspencer.com/

When Brand met the Belfast Orange, or why the comedy of new media helps us unlearn…

Mick Fealty on November 15, 2013, 11:00 am

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There’s an interesting conference at the University of Ulster coming up on the 10th December, which seems to be asking some of the right questions about social media, its uses in protest and the implications for democratic politics. The event blurb notes: Over the course of the last twelve months, Northern Ireland has witnessed social media playing a central role in the nature of politics and protests. The period in the wake of the decision by Belfast City Council to …

#Flegs Protest: Blocking the highway is only one way you can be convicted…

Mick Fealty on January 31, 2013, 12:48 pm

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For me this was the most straightforward and relevant contribution on last night’s Nolan. Peaceful protest is fine this audience member says, but who is informing the young people who are getting involved about what is and what is not legal. Obstructing the highway has been a focus (because it is probably the most disruptive), but that is not all you can get a criminal record for. Covering your face, acting in an intimidating manner towards others are also grounds …

A Northern Ireland that cannot govern itself will always be brittle and unstable

Mick Fealty on January 15, 2013, 9:19 am

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Okay, Nuala McKeever’s piece for the Belfast Telegraph put me in mind of the paper we pulled together and published ten years this May on, as it happens, the future of unionism: This is not about making unionism more yielding. A ‘long peace’ will not be an easy peace and unionists will often need to be tough in their projection of power. But ‘no’ should never be their final answer. Defensiveness is far too predictable a strategy. A genuinely disruptive …

“…a disruptive loyalist protest outside an empty Leinster House on a busy retail day”

Mick Fealty on January 7, 2013, 3:23 pm

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So, now it is the SDLP who are getting it in the neck from the flag protesters. Patsy McGlone (who has said nothing on the matter, so far as Slugger is aware, but who is unfortunate enough to live in a UVF dominant part of the world) has had a bullet in the post. And Claire Hanna has had her house shot up. The Police Service of Northern Ireland has confirmed the incident involving East Belfast nationalist politician Claire Hanna …

“Not always possible to align the democratic and the retail calendars…”

Mick Fealty on December 11, 2012, 12:33 pm

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First sign of any sort of kick back on the Alliance, the SDLP and Sinn Fein came from President of the Chamber last night, Joe Jordan who criticised the timing of the vote (rather than the vote itself), and the widespread unrest in and now way beyond the city.. It fell to Mairtin O’Muilleoir, a businessman himself and often an overt champion of local business interests on Twitter responded to similar queries on Sunday when he tweeted: @danzer_b agreed but …

Unionist violence after flag vote…

Belfast Gonzo on December 3, 2012, 9:29 pm

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AS predictably as night follows day, unionist protesters have turned to violence after tonight’s City Hall vote to restrict the flying of the Union Flag to designated days. Trouble erupted in and around the City Hall itself, but is right now spreading to other areas, noteably East Belfast. A number of police have been injured, and two female officers taken to hospital. You can leave reports of any trouble you observe below. Belfast Gonzosluggerotoole.com

Talking to Occupy Belfast camp in Writer’s Square

Alan Meban (Alan in Belfast) on October 24, 2011, 2:30 pm

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Occupy Belfast Writers Square

Following on from my earlier Occupy Belfast – rebels without a cause? post, I spoke to Gerry Carroll at lunchtime today, sheltering under a pagoda set up beside the impromptu Occupy Belfast camp in Writer’s Square opposite St Anne’s Cathedral. About ten tents are pitched in the square. The protesters have a nightly meeting at 6pm to decide on the next course of action, and have no plans to pack up their camp. More info on Facebook and Twitter. Alan …

Occupy Belfast – rebels without a cause?

Alan Meban (Alan in Belfast) on October 5, 2011, 9:10 am

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Occupy Belfast Fist poster

Occupy Belfast are reclaiming the ‘O’ word in these neck of the woods as they organise a protest “to show solidarity with workers and young people fighting against austerity and for a better future across the world, and to tell our politicians that the fight is coming to them”. Over the weekend, there were hundreds of arrests in New York as Occupy Wall Street protesters were disrupted by the NYPD. Arrests seem unlikely as the Belfast sister organisation plans its …

POTD – Meditation

Moochin Photoman on August 7, 2011, 7:33 am

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at Cornmarket Moochin PhotomanPhotographer and visual artist based in Belfast. I have facilitated community based workshops with groups as diverse as visually impaired individuals in Dungannn, Travellers across Northern Ireland, Young Offenders and many community groups across Belfast. My work has exhibited extensively here in Northern Ireland in group and individual shows and has been shown in North America and i had my first solo international exhibition in New Zealand. I have been the recipient of a number of grants …

No Free Presbyterian protest lodged against Belfast Pride Parade this year

Alan Meban (Alan in Belfast) on July 20, 2011, 4:07 pm

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Now in its 21st year after its first “run through the city centre” Belfast Pride has a week of activities (and a growing set of events on the fringe) surrounding the Saturday afternoon parade through Belfast city centre. This year only one group has registered a protest with the Parades Commission. So unless the normal protest from Sandown Free Presbyterian has merged in with the Stop the Parade Coalition, they must be staying at home on the afternoon of Saturday …

Photograph of the Day – William and Victoria

Moochin Photoman on October 24, 2010, 3:07 pm

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Ulster Says No (neigh)to the cuts. Taken at yesterdays ICTU organised rally which, by my estimation, had at it’s peak between 3500- 4000 people in attendance, (though the umbrellas made it difficult to guage). The building site that is Royal avenue also played it’s part in making it difficult to count the numbers. Moochin PhotomanPhotographer and visual artist based in Belfast. I have facilitated community based workshops with groups as diverse as visually impaired individuals in Dungannn, Travellers across Northern …

Republican protest doesn’t need or seek permission

Blank on July 25, 2010, 9:55 pm

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This afternoon saw a large enough gathering of republicans in Lurgan (500+ seems a reasonable estimate). For those attending their intention was to demonstrate support for republican prisoners and protest against the conditions/regime they face in gaol. It also exposed an entirely different issue, a problem that could present an increasing challenge to the Parades Commission, PSNI, Stormont Justice Minister and the Assembly as a whole. The first large scale republican challenge to state structures on parading came with éirígí’s …

Date and venue set for round 2

Aldous Duke on July 22, 2010, 11:28 pm

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Greater Ardoyne Resident’s Collective (GARC) spokesman Mairtin Og Meehan has confirmed the group’s intention to stage a protest at the Apprentice Boy’s parade past Ardoyne on August 14, reports the newsletter. ABOD Ligoniel Walker Club have sought permission for a parade with one band and up to 90 participants, with August 4 the date set for the Parades Commission’s consideration of the application. Meehan said if the “socially detached and discredited Parades Commission” allow the Apprentice Boys to march past …

“This story could end very badly indeed”

Blank on July 20, 2010, 11:55 pm

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The No Wash protest in the Long Kesh during the late 70s and early 80s never really created an impact outside groups already sympathetic to republican prisoners. No matter how hard families, committees and republicans tried the prison struggle did not influence broader public consciousness until well into the 2nd Hunger Strike. So it is hardly surprising very few are aware of an ongoing no-wash protest and battle over human waste being carried out by republican prisoners in the reincarnated …

Cui bono? Not those protesting for sure

Blank on July 7, 2010, 8:17 pm

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Over a period of months a diverse group have been turning up at the gates of Magheraberry prison in support of republican prisoners. The day after the most recent protest what was described as ‘an elaborate hoax’ bomb was found near the gaol. The next day a similar device ‘later declared an elaborate hoax’ was found at Hydebank. Of course this may lead to suspicions that republicans were involved in these hoaxes but given they have consistently complained of stop …

A farce within a force

Blank on June 26, 2010, 7:44 pm

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With today’s protest against DUP/SF proposed legislation to restrict the right to public assembly the PSNI earlier demonstrated how they will try and curb the current right to legal Public Assembly anyhow. Last year the PSNI successfully prevented éirígí’s protest against Armed Forces Day in Belfast by blocking protestors as they made their way to the assembly point. This year éirígí got around that by assembling directly at City Hall and not travelling there as a group. This meant their …