21 June 2001 Edition
Edinburgh march remembers Hunger Strikers
Scotland's commemoration of the 20th anniversary of the 1981 Hunger Strike continued last week with the largest ever republican march held in the East of Scotland. Larger than expected, a crowd of over 3,000 people joined the annual James Connolly march in Edinburgh. Two weeks ago, a commemoration march in Glasgow also attracted record numbers.
In Edinburgh, the march was led by women carrying portraits of the ten hunger strikers and included eight republican bands and people from all over Scotland, England and Ireland. Despite threats from loyalists and the BNP, the day passed off without incident.
As the march made its way through Edinburgh city centre it paused for a minute's silence at the birthplace of James Connolly, a republican hunger striker from the last century. At the rally, Jim Slaven of the James Connolly Society introduced Gurkan Gur, spokesperson for the families of political prisoners currently on hunger strike in Turkey. Gurkan drew parallels between the situation in Turkey today and the prison struggle in the north of Ireland between 1976 and 1981.
The main speaker was former POW and 1981 Hunger Striker Pat Sheehan, who gave a personal account of the Hunger Strikes and their legacy. ``There are more republicans in Ireland today than there were in 1981. The legacy of the Hunger Strikes can be seen in the large amount of young people here today, their legacy can also be seen in the recent election results which show a stronger republican mandate than ever before.''
The success of the 20th anniversary marches in Scotland have surprised many, but they have served to highlight the continuing level of support for the republican struggle. The anniversary events now move to England and the Liverpool march and rally on Saturday 21 June. Buses are being organised by the East and West of Scotland Hunger Strike Committees.
In Edinburgh, the march was led by women carrying portraits of the ten hunger strikers and included eight republican bands and people from all over Scotland, England and Ireland. Despite threats from loyalists and the BNP, the day passed off without incident.
As the march made its way through Edinburgh city centre it paused for a minute's silence at the birthplace of James Connolly, a republican hunger striker from the last century. At the rally, Jim Slaven of the James Connolly Society introduced Gurkan Gur, spokesperson for the families of political prisoners currently on hunger strike in Turkey. Gurkan drew parallels between the situation in Turkey today and the prison struggle in the north of Ireland between 1976 and 1981.
The main speaker was former POW and 1981 Hunger Striker Pat Sheehan, who gave a personal account of the Hunger Strikes and their legacy. ``There are more republicans in Ireland today than there were in 1981. The legacy of the Hunger Strikes can be seen in the large amount of young people here today, their legacy can also be seen in the recent election results which show a stronger republican mandate than ever before.''
The success of the 20th anniversary marches in Scotland have surprised many, but they have served to highlight the continuing level of support for the republican struggle. The anniversary events now move to England and the Liverpool march and rally on Saturday 21 June. Buses are being organised by the East and West of Scotland Hunger Strike Committees.