Not being one who uses nor indeed even understands facebooks fascination to some keyboard warriors (I have only ever issued on statement in my life) I was shocked to be shown a series of statements and responses on a facebook page purporting to represent the thinking and position of those involved in the organisation of the current Bloody Sunday March and some of their supporters.
The history of the Bloody
Sunday families and of this city’s campaign for truth and justice and the
sustained, courageous and ongoing commitment and support both nationally and
internationally for the families campaign is well documented and does not need
to be patronisingly explained to us.
Our family in common with many
others have taken part in every meeting, event, march or demonstration since
they first began and, no doubt in common with many others, we will never let
our voices go unheard nor the memory of Bloody Sunday be forgotten.
Therefore, any suggestion that those thousands of people, including family
members who decided after years of campaigning that they would not take part in
this year’s march, have become agents of MI5 or supporters of British soldiers
or wish to prevent justice for those who have suffered from British atrocities
not only insults all of us who have fought for justice consistently over the
past 46 years, not just the past seven, is nothing short of arrogance and ego
on the part of those wishing to portray themselves as latter day Martin Luther
Kings.
For any sensible observer it
has become obvious over the past number of years that differences as to
strategy and perhaps political allegiances have caused many, both family
members and public supporters, to adopt different approaches as to the best way
to progress the campaign and to commemorate the event.
As a family whose
relative was shot on that day we took our own decision to support the
continuation of the march which inevitably conflicted with others who chose
differently.
However, despite our differences we will never forget the
friendships and determination, even in the darkest of times of all those family
members and their supporters who over all the years never wavered in their
determination to seek justice.
When I read statements about who has stood up for justice and who hasn’t, or who has the right to speak for all those affected by Bloody Sunday and who hasn’t, or who considers themselves as the only true representatives of decency, republicanism, democracy, justice etc, I can’t help but seethe at the hypocrisy of the ‘holier than thou brigade’ who consider themselves to be without sin and are prepared to throw the first stone, regardless of the hurt it causes when it strikes.
I do not wish to revisit
previous disputed events but the refusal of this committee to allow other family
members to participate followed by the refusal to allow Tony Taylor’s wife
access to the platform, the blatant linking of the Bloody Sunday facebook page
and the March to one political party and finally the production of that
disgraceful poster led our family along with thousands to refuse to participate
in this year’s march.
Let there be no mistake about
this, our decision not to participate caused us a great deal of heartache and
pain and was only taken after much soul searching. To be clear our
decision not to march in no way represents a desire to see the march
ended. In fact we as a family pledge to do all we can to see the Bloody
Sunday March returned to the streets in the proud tradition with which it was
established.
To this end we call for open
and honest debate amongst all those who have the cause of Truth and Justice at
heart and an end to mud-slinging, untruths or innuendos which do nothing but
assist our enemies.
In May of this year the
communication below was sent forward to the current march committee in response
to their call for communication via their chosen mediator contrary to claims
that this was bullying or something untoward. The mediator, a highly
respected republican and trade unionist will confirm this. The paper is
representative of the views of a broad range of people inclusive of
Bloody Sunday family members, political groupings and social
justice activists. Please click the link below to read the paper.
➤ Jacqueline O’Reilly is a Bloody
Sunday Family Member.
Thank you Jacqueline for setting things as detailed as you have. It was not the easiest to follow at times. I did not know so many from pb4p were controlling things. The electioneering was crass.
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