The one month ban on marches in the Strathclyde area was recommended by the police and rubber-stamped by the loyal Labour-controlled Strathclyde Regional Council.
Selective and aimed specifically at Irish demonstrations, the terms of the ban are thoroughly repressive. The ban ensures that loyalists and orangemen can parade their support for imperialism on pseudo-religious marches which are exempted but in reality are hate-filled, anti-catholic and political in the extreme. On the other hand supporters of the hunger strikers cannot march to oppose British imperialism in Ireland. The terms of the ban show a cynical consideration for all eventualities: banned are ‘public processions…which are concerned or connected, directly or indirectly, with Northern Irish affairs or any aspect thereof or which are organised by, or with the assistance of any person or body known or reputed to be so concerned or connected.’
The wording sets out to avoid repetitions of the events during the last three month ban when on two major occasions support for the hunger strikers was raised-the Glasgow May Day march when the Glasgow Hunger Strike Action Committee joined the march for a time before the police hauled down the banner, and the CND rally in Kelvingrove Park where hundreds came to the support of a GHSAC activist arrested by the police (her charge has since been dropped through the attention the arrest received). Now, ‘any person who knowingly fails to comply with the afore-mentioned order or any person who organises or assists in organising any public procession held or intended to be held… or incites any person to take part in such a procession’ stands to get three months inside or a £500 fine, or both.
This both wide-ranging and specific ban is the second this year. In April, a three month ban was imposed in response to growing support for the hunger strikers and to ensure that there would be no marches during the most critical period of the hunger strike. So far four months out of ten this year, the streets have been denied anti-imperialists whilst pro-imperialists – the sectarian and bi-gotted loyalists-march freely. In imperialism’s book, hate-filled marches against the Pope because he won’t excommunicate the IRA are nothing to do with Ireland, not political and are religious and therefore allowed.
The Scottish working class movement must wake up to this attack on the right to march and open discrimination in favour of the enemies of the working class.
Rally goes ahead
Denied the right to march, the GHSAC organised a successful and militant street rally in Black Hill. Despite torrential rain 80 attended with contingents from Edinburgh, Sterling and from the Dundee Hunger Strike Action Committee. Speeches were made by the RCG, RCPB (ML), Scottish Republican Socialist Clubs, the Dundee Hunger Strike Action Committee and the GHSAC. All pledged to continue support for the hunger strikers. The speaker from the RCG made the most important point when he said that the biggest obstacle to mass Glasgow support for the hunger strikers was the loyalist police and council. All speeches were applauded enthusiastically by the local people in one of the poorest areas of Glasgow and the rally concluded with a mass ‘walk’ to the hated local police station. A short but militant picket was held while a letter of condemnation of the ban was handed in. The police were open-mouthed at this ‘effrontery’ and at the fact that the police station walls were ringing to chants of ‘Victory to the Hunger Strikers! Political Status Now!’ They quickly summoned transit vans and threatened arrests. But having made our presence felt and made our point we dispersed.
Later that day the GHSAC held a street rally in Barrowfield near Celtic Park as the crowd left the football game. In the face of extreme provocation from the Glasgow police, the rally grew to 40 strong. 8 police on horseback, one full transit van, 2 squad cars and 2 Branch cars were called to prevent people joining the rally: some were threatened, some were physically stopped, some were intimidated by the heavy police presence. As the GHSAC members and supporters began the meeting the police threw a wide ring round the area. Undaunted the meeting commenced with shouts of ‘Victory to the Hunger Strikers!’ and ‘Troops Out Now!’ and continued in open defiance of the police, calling them loyalists and the enemies of free speech. The meeting received spirited support and concluded a successful day of events which demonstrated the support which exists for a militant, determined campaign in support of the hunger strikers.
G Cameron
FRFI 14 Oct-Nov 1981
