Anthony McIntyre ☠ Last month, writing in TPQ, Brian Trainor described the rise of racism in Newry and the challenge to it from the local community and the trade union movement.
That piece leapt immediately to mind upon reading of the attack on the Sinn Fein office in the city where 'a viable explosive device' was used. This came a month after racist protests were staged, and Sinn Fein had lent its name to a proposal allowing Newry to join the City of Sanctuary network.
A few miles south of Newry and extending throughout the remainder of the twenty six counties is a particular loathing for Sinn Fein by the far right. Part of the reason lies in it wishing to claim Sinn Fein's clothing as its own so that it might bulk out its uber nationalist credentials. The far right longs to clear the field of competitors to ownership of the national flag and displace Sinn Fein as the shrillest voice on the nationalist stage. A further not insignificant element in the racist loathing of Sinn Fein is that the party's activists have been involved in anti-racist networks, even if the leadership has toned down its welcome for immigrants.
The Sinn Fein First Minister in the North, Michelle O'Neill, described the Newry incident as an attack on democracy. This has allowed the TUV to flag up Sinn Fein's past and wave the banner of hypocrisy in its face, Timothy Gaston seeming to gloat in his comment that "Sinn Féin is feeling today what it inflicted on many people during the years of terror in Northern Ireland".
Most will likely regard TUV concerns as not being concerns at all, just whataboutery. When the DUP's Trevor Clarke also referred to the incident as an attack on democracy nothing was heard from the TUV about the DUP's past association with the Turd Force or Ulster Resistance. The ham fisted silencing of Gaston at Stormont - when he should have been allowed to continue with his rant, and dig an even deeper hole - will unfortunately get him more air time for hot air which fortunately he will use to generate more heat than light.
I am not enamoured to either Sinn Fein's view of the world or that of Clifford Peeples. Nevertheless, if Peeples can rightly object to his home being firebombed without his previous association with explosives being rubbed in his face then Sinn Fein should be treated no differently.
Racism is a plague and no one should be subjected to the blight of its violence. If the TUV insists on ringing up targets of far right thuggery to complain about their past, let it go to voicemail.
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