Mandate president attends Ireland-Palestine Solidarity Campaign vigil in Sligo

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MEMBERS and supporters of the Ireland-Palestine Solidarity Campaign in Sligo gathered again at the GPO last Saturday afternoon to participate in a vigil to express solidarity with Palestine and particularly with the people of Gaza.

Among the participants were Cllr Arthur Gibbons, Cllr Gino O'Boyle and the National President of the Mandate Trade Union, Ms Denise Curran.

The protesters displayed Palestinian Flags and carried placards which read: “End the Siege of Gaza,” “Boycott Israeli

Goods,” “Saoirse don Phalaistin,” “Permanent Ceasefire Now,” “Free Palestine”.

Spokesperson Aine Daly told The Sligo Weekender they welcomed the unanimous passing of a motion in the Seanad calling for action by the Government to hold Israel accountable for its ongoing crimes against the Palestinian people.

“The Taoiseach has stated that Israel is not ‘a normal, liberal, western democracy'.

“Minister Coveney has called Israel's behaviour monstrous and akin to a ‘rogue state'. Polls show that 80 per cent of people in Ireland understand that what is happening in Gaza is a genocide, that 70 per cent recognise that Israel is committing the crime of apartheid, and that huge majorities are demanding sanctions.

“We have been calling for the government to listen to the people it is supposed to represent - now we are also calling for it to listen to the Seanad.

“The time for ‘reflection', ‘debate', ‘consideration' and hand-sitting is over – it is now time for action,” she said.