Historic US visit by Sinn Féin leadership
By Mick Naughton.
``We want to see an end to British jurisdiction,'' said Sinn Féin
President Gerry Adams MP. ``British Prime Minister Tony Blair says
there will not be a united Ireland in the lifetime of people. We
say just the opposite.''
Those words of hope spoken and widely reported in the American
media last week reflected the hope not only of Irish people at
home, but also the hope of the many millions that make up the
Irish Diasopra, especially in the United States.
Adams was speaking during a packed address to the National Press
Club. Many newspapers, including the New York Times and USA Today
ran the Sinn Féin message on their front pages. Adams's words
consequently were carried to every state of the union, with many
state papers and television channels covering each day's events.
A critical feature of almost every meeting or briefing was the
Sinn Féin appeal for unionists not to boycott the upcoming
negotiations. ``We believe that the Unionists have as much right
to be on the island as we have,'' he said. Adams added that Sinn
Féin's goal remained the reunification of the island and stated
that republicans were prepared to negotiate how this could be
brought about. ``We have a very clear political goal, and our
political goal is to see the people of Ireland living in peace
and in harmony without the interference of the British
government.''
There was a palpable feeling that this was a history-making Sinn
Féin visit. The theme, `A great change is at hand, peace, justice
and unity', reflected the sense of hope in advance of next week's
all-party talks.
There was a warm welcome for the delegation, Gerry Adams, Martin
McGuinness and Caoimhghín O'Caolain. From Capitol Hill and the
White House to the `Ostan Waldorf Astoria' and the Roseland
Ballroom in New York City people wanted to make sure they were
part of the beginning of the end of the Orange state.
``It's the first time that republican representatives have sat
down with the British government since partition nearly 80 years
ago,'' said Martin McGuinness.
Reporting these comments, Jim Dwyer in the New York Daily News
said, ``Northern Ireland has no constitution. Nothing protects the
rights of minorities, or the harmless eccentric. For decades the
rule of the `majority' in Northern Ireland was simple bludgeon
used against the `minority'. Unionists controlled government
jobs, housing, the police, the judiciary and every arm of the
government. The civil rights movement rose in the late 1960s and
wa put down brutally by the local police [RUC], then by British
troops. Then hell broke loose and walked the streets.''
Dwyer continued quoting Adams: ``By the mid-1980s, we sat down and
realised this word `peace,' this concept of `peace' had been
hijacked from us. We asked the question, `What is peace?' Peace
is justice, peace is equality. Peace is the diginity of being
able to live in your own place with equality of opportunity, and
free from repression, from discrimination, from poverty and
foreign occupation.''
The widely read USA Today stated on its front page of Thursday
September 4:
``Among Irish-Americans support remains solid for Irish
nationalist leader Gerry Adams and for peace talks aimed at
ending nearly three decades of strife in Northern Ireland....It
is here, in the outreach to Irish Americans, that Adams will make
his pitch.'' Deane continued her piece by reporting a meeting
between Adams and the editoral board of her newspaper. ``We are
here in the US almost as a starting point to our entry into the
talks.'' Adams said. ``We need others to help us.'' He also urged
Irish-Americans to stay involved in the peace process. ``You can
play a direct role in what is happening in Ireland.''
This ``direct role'' was reinforced everywhere the delegation went.
It was summed up by Sinn Féin's representative to the US, Mairead
Keane who has maintained the Sinn Fein office in Washington for
over two years now. It now has American citizens working full
time. Keane spoke to An Phoblacht hours after the Sinn Féin
leaders had left JFK airport:
``I got the feeling Irish America has been waiting, like us all at
home, for these momentous days. The sense of history we
experienced last week could almost be physically felt. Everywhere
we went, from the White House to the fundraisers, everyone was
confident and positive.. This I would put down to all the hard
work Irish Americans have done over the past years, particularly
all those who regularly do the thankless tasks vital in any
struggle. These people are the backbone of our development and
political progress. It is vital for us all to move along
together. The chance of the people here to hear Sinn Féin's talks
strategy is crucial as is the garnering of influential groups'
support. I would applaud the White House and President Clinton's
even-handed approach to all this especially as we move into
unchartered waters.
``We have achieved a lot over the last five days and it is fair to
remember a good breakthrough on the economic front.
``We are planning a trade mission to follow this week's visit,
spearheaded by Belfast councillor Sean McKnight, who was with us
this week. Sinn Féin intends to bring Irish local business people
to the US in a few months time. This comes hard on the heels of
our very productive meeting with Secretary of Commerce William
Daley in Washington last Thursday. Trade links with the
underprivileged areas are continuing. Areas like north and west
Belfast which bore the brunt of the conflict over the past 27
years must feel they have an economic future and the Commerce
Department have a valuable role to play and they have signalled
they are going to take a much more pro-active position in the
time ahead.''
So as the talks date advances, the mood in the US is being
described as one of cautious optimism. While Martin McGuinness
was visiting three H Block escapee prisoners on Saturday this
cautious optimism was touched upon as he asked for the American
judicial system to give them their liberty. ``American authorities
should look on people like that as people who are victims of a
conflict. They pose no threat to the US,'' he said.
McGuinness later the same day was given the keys of the city of
San Francisco by Mayor Willie Brown and remarked that he accepted
this honour on behalf of the risen people, particularly those who
need the keys to unlock the hundreds of jail cell doors, not only
in the US, but in Ireland and Britain.
But maybe the new Cavan/Monaghan TD summed up the mood of the
historic trip when he spoke in the packed Roseland ballroom: ``The
legacy we will leave behind is an Ireland free from the centre to
the sea.''
That the crowds assembled keenly felt the surge forward was
reinforced by McGuinness, who added onto O'Caolain's ringing
words: ``We assemble here in what is probably the most important
time in our country, these coming negotiations are the most
important this century.''