Caoimhin O’Muraile ☭ It was with a certain amount of sorrow and a hell of a lot of anger that I felt when I heard of the residents of the East Wall area of North Inner-City Dublin protesting against asylum seekers being housed in their area in an old disused ESB building.

It certainly came as no surprise these protests were taking place over the 26 county governments plans to house 380 asylum seekers from Afghanistan, Nigeria and other countries where terror appears to be part of these unfortunate’s everyday lives. 

What the government had not done, which was why the protests were called in the first place was hold consultation and dialogue with the residents over this mass movement of people under one roof into their area. It is not like getting new neighbours living next door: we are talking about a lot of people who the community knew nothing of. Parents are, rightly so, concerned about their children’s safety among other issues which were raising questions. Some legitimate, others perhaps being born out of fear and media propaganda. Either way surely the government had a responsibility to at least consult the residents about this migration of people into their area. Remember, consultation does not equal the same as negotiation, it does not mean the residents could veto the plan which they were not asking for, just to be kept in the loop so to speak. Instead, they felt were being rode roughshod over with no concern for them, the residents, from the government. This was the initial reason for the protest, lack of consultation and dialogue. They were not about “sending them back” which is something which has been imported in by far-right wing elements, fascist right, like the so-called Irish Freedom Party. It was only a matter of time before the far right made their move and this proved to be a pivotal point which had the government used a little common sense could have been avoided.

Now we have slogans like “send them back” and “get them out” all crap used by the fascists and hitherto not used by the residents, most of whom so far, do not want these fascist groups involved. I say most because a small element of locals would appear to be taking on board this Hitlerite rubbish, rubbish yes but dangerous rubbish all the same. Spokespersons for the resident have been on the news stating these calls by fringe groups coming in are “not what the protests are about” and that these organisations are not wanted here. 

However, and I am speaking from experience, what starts off as peaceful quite legitimate concerns and protest can, and all too often do, turn into a campaign against asylum seekers and immigration as a whole. The people of East Wall are not, to my knowledge and I live not far away, racist generally speaking any more than the rest of Irish society. Not racist Yet, because once these leeches from fascist groups like the IFP pedal their filth, not in the old skinhead street fighting way, but by seen as respectable and using what sounds like common sense talk. Even though it is Nazi propaganda dressed up, they can be and are very persuasive. People will listen to this trash unless a counter argument can be put forward, supporting the legitimate right to protest while at the same time countering these right-wing lies propagated by the far-right. 

All this because the government did not have the foresight, the foresight of a reasonably adjusted ten-year-old, to ask about the concerns of local people. The word “veto” has been used by Leo Varadkar on the news when he comes out with such statements as, “no residents can be allowed to veto these plans.” Well Leo, you less than intelligent man, nobody hitherto was asking for this right. It is you who has introduced this non-existent fear. Now why would you do that? Could it be, it would be in your cobbled together government’s interests to have a far-right backlash to divert attention from the mess you have made not only of the asylum seekers and refugees' situation but the provision of goods and services, from health to housing as a whole, to divert people’s attention from your own abysmal record? Could this be why you are introducing straw men, Leo? Only you know the answer and if it is true, you and your fellow TDs will never admit it. 

My advice to you, for what it’s worth, is do not do it because you could release a whirlwind of reaction which this country has no experience of handling! Take from that what you wish. By introducing the word “veto”, albeit in its pejorative sense Varadkar has used IFP language hidden in concern for the asylum seekers. When groups like the Irish Freedom Party talk of “veto” they’re referring to vetoing before expulsion. Varadkar did not mean it, I doubt, in that sense but nevertheless he has now introduced it into the discourse. During the 1980s Margaret Thatcher stole some of the fascist National Front’s clothing to wear under her own. This became a regular tactic of hers while at the same time claiming to “find the policies of the National Front abhorrent” while enacting some of these “abhorrent” policies herself.

The government minister responsible for this avoidable mess, and potential fascist recruiting ground is Roderic O’Gorman, 26 county Minister for Children, Integration, Disability, and Youth, has had leaflets delivered to the residents of East Wall and surrounding areas. They do address some of the residents' concerns and could be used in a positive way to benefit residents of the area, old and new. By new I mean the asylum seekers. The issue here is all this should have been done before the new arrivals were bussed in and a potential problem could have been avoided. Let us hope this is not a question of too little, too late! If the racists and fascists have already got their teeth into the community, I fear that could be the case.

I have seen this happen before in London’s East End when the Thatcher Government purposely did not engage with locals over the number of immigrants which were to be moved into their area. Areas like Tower Hamlets, Barking, and Dagenham did not know of the numbers and became a hotbed for the British National Party for a time. This was done deliberately by Thatcher, herself holding private fascist sympathies, to allow racial discontent and suspicion allowing hatreds to fester. I do not put Varadkar in her league, far from it, but he and the 26 county administration should learn from other countries experiences with this kind of thing. London’s East End had, have a proud history of left-wing fighting back against the establishment dating back to the Poplar Rent Revolt in 1921, the no pasaran campaign which in 1936 and led by Jewish and Irish groups along with socialists, communists, trade unionists and even some liberals stopped Mosley’s Hitlerite Blackshirt British Union of Fascists (BUF) at Cable Street. Suddenly those same areas became a hotbed for the fascists of the eighties for a time. Attitudes, irrespective of tradition can change, as happened in the East End.

East Wall also has a tradition of fighting back from a left-wing angle dating back to the 1913/14 Dublin Lockout and the 1916 Easter Rising. Christina Caffrey was born and reared at 17 Abercorn Street, East Wall. Christina was a confidant of James Connolly; she was heavily involved in the lockout and the soup kitchens along with other women like Helena Moloney, Rossie Hacket and many others. Christina was also a volunteer in the Irish Citizen Army and fought with the ICA in the Easter Rising. Her sister, Elizabeth, was a founding member of the Irish Women Workers Union along with Delia Larkin, the sister of “Big Jim” the ITGWU leader. 

So, like the East End of London, the East Wall has a left-wing tradition, a revolutionary history so do not allow these fascist interlopers, who care nothing for the residents of the area apart from using them as cannon fodder to promote their racist policies to stain that tradition, as the BNP did to the East End. They will hijack the campaign, if they already have not done so, for their own ends. They care no more for the residents than they do for the asylum seekers they are trying to deport. Countering the IFP is very important and do it quickly. Stop the fascists and stop them now is my advice based on experience. Concentrate on dialogue with the government, late in the day as it may be. 

Anti-fascists should be involved in the area supporting the residents demands for dialogue and consultation while at the same time countering the crap spewed out by the IFP. Unfortunately, I have already heard language used by the fascists, like “fuck them out”, and “send them back” and these are probably some more moderate orations used. This situation is potentially dangerous for both residents and asylum seekers alike, some who have already said the protests intimidate them. 

Get the fascist scum out of your areas, do not allow them to hijack your campaign and demands to be consulted. Failure to do so could be disastrous and everybody may live to regret it.

Caoimhin O’Muraile is Independent 
Socialist Republican and Marxist

East Wall Protests

Caoimhin O’Muraile ☭ It was with a certain amount of sorrow and a hell of a lot of anger that I felt when I heard of the residents of the East Wall area of North Inner-City Dublin protesting against asylum seekers being housed in their area in an old disused ESB building.

It certainly came as no surprise these protests were taking place over the 26 county governments plans to house 380 asylum seekers from Afghanistan, Nigeria and other countries where terror appears to be part of these unfortunate’s everyday lives. 

What the government had not done, which was why the protests were called in the first place was hold consultation and dialogue with the residents over this mass movement of people under one roof into their area. It is not like getting new neighbours living next door: we are talking about a lot of people who the community knew nothing of. Parents are, rightly so, concerned about their children’s safety among other issues which were raising questions. Some legitimate, others perhaps being born out of fear and media propaganda. Either way surely the government had a responsibility to at least consult the residents about this migration of people into their area. Remember, consultation does not equal the same as negotiation, it does not mean the residents could veto the plan which they were not asking for, just to be kept in the loop so to speak. Instead, they felt were being rode roughshod over with no concern for them, the residents, from the government. This was the initial reason for the protest, lack of consultation and dialogue. They were not about “sending them back” which is something which has been imported in by far-right wing elements, fascist right, like the so-called Irish Freedom Party. It was only a matter of time before the far right made their move and this proved to be a pivotal point which had the government used a little common sense could have been avoided.

Now we have slogans like “send them back” and “get them out” all crap used by the fascists and hitherto not used by the residents, most of whom so far, do not want these fascist groups involved. I say most because a small element of locals would appear to be taking on board this Hitlerite rubbish, rubbish yes but dangerous rubbish all the same. Spokespersons for the resident have been on the news stating these calls by fringe groups coming in are “not what the protests are about” and that these organisations are not wanted here. 

However, and I am speaking from experience, what starts off as peaceful quite legitimate concerns and protest can, and all too often do, turn into a campaign against asylum seekers and immigration as a whole. The people of East Wall are not, to my knowledge and I live not far away, racist generally speaking any more than the rest of Irish society. Not racist Yet, because once these leeches from fascist groups like the IFP pedal their filth, not in the old skinhead street fighting way, but by seen as respectable and using what sounds like common sense talk. Even though it is Nazi propaganda dressed up, they can be and are very persuasive. People will listen to this trash unless a counter argument can be put forward, supporting the legitimate right to protest while at the same time countering these right-wing lies propagated by the far-right. 

All this because the government did not have the foresight, the foresight of a reasonably adjusted ten-year-old, to ask about the concerns of local people. The word “veto” has been used by Leo Varadkar on the news when he comes out with such statements as, “no residents can be allowed to veto these plans.” Well Leo, you less than intelligent man, nobody hitherto was asking for this right. It is you who has introduced this non-existent fear. Now why would you do that? Could it be, it would be in your cobbled together government’s interests to have a far-right backlash to divert attention from the mess you have made not only of the asylum seekers and refugees' situation but the provision of goods and services, from health to housing as a whole, to divert people’s attention from your own abysmal record? Could this be why you are introducing straw men, Leo? Only you know the answer and if it is true, you and your fellow TDs will never admit it. 

My advice to you, for what it’s worth, is do not do it because you could release a whirlwind of reaction which this country has no experience of handling! Take from that what you wish. By introducing the word “veto”, albeit in its pejorative sense Varadkar has used IFP language hidden in concern for the asylum seekers. When groups like the Irish Freedom Party talk of “veto” they’re referring to vetoing before expulsion. Varadkar did not mean it, I doubt, in that sense but nevertheless he has now introduced it into the discourse. During the 1980s Margaret Thatcher stole some of the fascist National Front’s clothing to wear under her own. This became a regular tactic of hers while at the same time claiming to “find the policies of the National Front abhorrent” while enacting some of these “abhorrent” policies herself.

The government minister responsible for this avoidable mess, and potential fascist recruiting ground is Roderic O’Gorman, 26 county Minister for Children, Integration, Disability, and Youth, has had leaflets delivered to the residents of East Wall and surrounding areas. They do address some of the residents' concerns and could be used in a positive way to benefit residents of the area, old and new. By new I mean the asylum seekers. The issue here is all this should have been done before the new arrivals were bussed in and a potential problem could have been avoided. Let us hope this is not a question of too little, too late! If the racists and fascists have already got their teeth into the community, I fear that could be the case.

I have seen this happen before in London’s East End when the Thatcher Government purposely did not engage with locals over the number of immigrants which were to be moved into their area. Areas like Tower Hamlets, Barking, and Dagenham did not know of the numbers and became a hotbed for the British National Party for a time. This was done deliberately by Thatcher, herself holding private fascist sympathies, to allow racial discontent and suspicion allowing hatreds to fester. I do not put Varadkar in her league, far from it, but he and the 26 county administration should learn from other countries experiences with this kind of thing. London’s East End had, have a proud history of left-wing fighting back against the establishment dating back to the Poplar Rent Revolt in 1921, the no pasaran campaign which in 1936 and led by Jewish and Irish groups along with socialists, communists, trade unionists and even some liberals stopped Mosley’s Hitlerite Blackshirt British Union of Fascists (BUF) at Cable Street. Suddenly those same areas became a hotbed for the fascists of the eighties for a time. Attitudes, irrespective of tradition can change, as happened in the East End.

East Wall also has a tradition of fighting back from a left-wing angle dating back to the 1913/14 Dublin Lockout and the 1916 Easter Rising. Christina Caffrey was born and reared at 17 Abercorn Street, East Wall. Christina was a confidant of James Connolly; she was heavily involved in the lockout and the soup kitchens along with other women like Helena Moloney, Rossie Hacket and many others. Christina was also a volunteer in the Irish Citizen Army and fought with the ICA in the Easter Rising. Her sister, Elizabeth, was a founding member of the Irish Women Workers Union along with Delia Larkin, the sister of “Big Jim” the ITGWU leader. 

So, like the East End of London, the East Wall has a left-wing tradition, a revolutionary history so do not allow these fascist interlopers, who care nothing for the residents of the area apart from using them as cannon fodder to promote their racist policies to stain that tradition, as the BNP did to the East End. They will hijack the campaign, if they already have not done so, for their own ends. They care no more for the residents than they do for the asylum seekers they are trying to deport. Countering the IFP is very important and do it quickly. Stop the fascists and stop them now is my advice based on experience. Concentrate on dialogue with the government, late in the day as it may be. 

Anti-fascists should be involved in the area supporting the residents demands for dialogue and consultation while at the same time countering the crap spewed out by the IFP. Unfortunately, I have already heard language used by the fascists, like “fuck them out”, and “send them back” and these are probably some more moderate orations used. This situation is potentially dangerous for both residents and asylum seekers alike, some who have already said the protests intimidate them. 

Get the fascist scum out of your areas, do not allow them to hijack your campaign and demands to be consulted. Failure to do so could be disastrous and everybody may live to regret it.

Caoimhin O’Muraile is Independent 
Socialist Republican and Marxist

2 comments:

  1. I agree that the establishment parties benifit from the existence of the far right in Ireland. Nobody can with anything like certainty say that they are even partially a state construct but on an island that absorbed British state paramilitaries in the pay of the crown, why not?

    One of the big problems with contemplating that is you cannot then rule out the same on the opposing side.

    I'm an anti fascist but not aligned with any structured antifascist movement. Of the constructs I observe in that space I see much the same as the fascists on the other side, intolerance and extremism.

    There is a big risk that East wall will become misquoted and mischaracterized or taken over, and that a catalyst effect may occur. There's never been a migrant at fault for coming to Ireland. They, like all humans, seek safety, shelter and a chance at prosperity. It's not a leftist claim to say that but a humanitarian one.

    One thing is certain though. The Irish political establishment that rules here from leinster House cannot reasonably claim to care for migrants when it doesn't care for those already here that are left behind. So what is it about then? It's about serving their own interests as it always is. It's naive and foolish to assume otherwise. If Ireland was a functioning, Liberal, social democracy and not an extremist neo Liberal capitalist colony we could comfortably process migrants for humanitarian aid in a way that doesn't rip up all social cohesion which this could lead to.

    All I see here is division, sadly.

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  2. Thats right, Patrick, unlike the Thatcher years in Britain, and 'Thatcherism' the legacy also practiced by Blair, Ireland has never had a fascist minded taoiseach or Prime Minister. There have been fascists in the Dail, I refer to Oliver J. Flanagan back in 1942 pro Nazi speech about Jewish people.
    Thatcher did use the "abhorent" policies of the NF, not all of them granted, but subtely slipping in bits of the fascist manifesto between her own lines. She was constrained because, right-wing as those tory governments were they were not fascist. That said, as you point out, Ireland has "absorbed British paramilitaries in the pay of the crown".

    The crockodile tears for refugees and asylum seekers cried from Leinster House is more about impressing other larger countries particularly the USA than genuine concern for the newcomers. Put simply, you cannot invite a hungry peeson in for tea and produce an empty plate!

    East Wall has already been misquted and at last some genuine residents, not IFP imports, are begining to speak out against these hijackers. A tiny minority of Esat Wall residents have, unfortunately, fell for some of this Hitlerite crap. Fortunately, so far it is only a minority.

    Noteable to see this same fascist group are trying to infiltrate concerned residents in Cork. Fortunately, and perhaps learning from East Wall, residents in Cork have been quuck off the mark with anti fascist banners and placards. It is a situation which has the potential to become very dangerous and explosive, not helped by Varadkar introducing unwelcome terminology albeit pejoritively.

    Caoimhin O'Muraile

    ReplyDelete