Prisoner support group launched in US
A new support group for Irish political prisoners was launched in
the USA on Thanksgiving weekend. Rosaleen Doherty, Director of
the Prisoners Department of Irish Northern Aid and Noraid
Chairperson Paul Doris, launched the national Lifeline-Saoirse
USA campaign in St Louis, Missouri.
Lifeline-Saoirse is directly tied to An Cumann Cabhrach in Dublin
and Green Cross in Belfast. Participants pledge monthly support
to the POWs and their families to help defray the cost of travel
to English and Irish jails and pay for everyday expenses such as
children's shoes and books.
Donations to Lifeline Saoirse USA can be sent to P.O. Box 4624,
Philadelphia, PA., 19127-0624.
Noraid regional conference largest-yet
BY CHRISTY Mac an BHAIRD
More than 60 delegates representing Irish Northern Aid units from
around the Mid-West region of the United States met in St. Louis,
Missouri, on the weekend of the US Thanksgiving holiday for the
annual INAC regional conference.
Francie Broderick and her husband Matt Morrison, who face
deportation from the US, reminded everyone how difficult a year
it has been for families in such a situation. They expressed
their gratitude for the support they have received from Irish
Northern Aid and congratulated everyone on the small victories
they all enjoyed, including suspension of the proceedings against
them by the US Department of Justice in September.
Broderick let everyone know that she had recently received a
letter through her lawyers from David Martin, the lead counsel
for the Immigration and Naturalization Service, which stated that
as far as they were concerned, the status of the deportees was
simply on hold, that nothing had really changed.
A letter from POW Richard Johnson was read to the meeting. It
said:
``A chairde,
I wish to greet you all at this meeting and give you a deep,
heartfelt thank you for all you are doing on behalf of Ireland
and the POWs.
Peace talks in Ireland continue and represent a very historical
period in the history of the struggle for freedom and
independence. Your careful study and support is more important
than ever. Stay to it!
I, myself, am still imprisoned in the USA. We continue to work
for my freedom right here. Letters on my behalf to the President
and the Attorney General are certainly needed now. I would
appreciate them. This is part of the movement to free all the
POWs wherever they are.
Again, thank you all and keep up the grand work.
Slán'',
Richard Johnson
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