11 August 2005 Edition

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Youth in Struggle

Ógra protesting against state collusion

Ógra protesting against state collusion

The annual Ógra Shinn Féin Youth in Struggle weekend was held on Thursday 4 August, with activists attending the Youth for Truth conference in St Mary's College, Belfast. The panel of speakers included Ógra Shinn Féin speaker, Caolan Campbell, as well as John Finucane, Deirdre McAliskey, Paul Brennan, Gerry Adams and Alex Maskey. The highly informative event was chaired by Sharon Pickering from the anti-collusion campaign, An Fhirinne.

Ógra Shinn Féin Six-County Organiser, Barry McColgan hailed the event as a great success in "allowing young people to share their experiences and the effects on their lives, caused by the British state's active policy of institutionalised collusion with unionist death squads, resulting in the murder or attempted murders of their loved ones".

The clár for the weekend contained a wide variety of events such as historical tours of the Republican Plot at Milltown Cemetery and Ballymurphy, a discussion on international affairs, addressed by activists from the Basque youth organisation SEGI as well as a sponsored walk across the Black Mountain.

Ógra activists also attended a night of revolutionary music and song with the Basque band, Urgrabe as well as a new play, Ar an Phlúid‚ written by Brian Milligan and depicting the role of Kieran Nugent, the first blanket man.

On Sunday's State Violence — State the Truth march and rally, Ógra Shinn Féin played a leading role.

Ógra Shinn Féin National Organiser, Mickey Bravender commenting on the Youth in Struggle weekend said: "The large numbers of young republicans attending this weekend's successful programme of events, which included educational, historical and campaigning elements, display huge dedication and commitment to the achievement of a 32 County socialist and democratic republic. Young republicans continue to play a leading role in the struggle for Irish unity and independence.


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