Irish Republican News · January 26, 2019

The march for justice

 

The context for this years’s Bloody Sunday March. For more information see bloodysundaymarch.org

 

The main focus of the 2019 Bloody Sunday march is on our demand for “Sir” Michael Jackson to be jailed.

Yes, the paratroopers who fired the shots must be brought to book. But the greater guilt lies with the top brass.

Jackson, in the Bogside as second-in-command on the day, should be charged with murder and with perverting the law by procuring the cover-up.

By the time he appeared before the second Bloody Sunday Inquiry, under Lord Saville in 2003, Jackson had risen through the ranks to become Chief of the General Staff, Britain’s top soldier. Following the publication of the inquiry’s report in June 2010, Tory prime minister David Cameron couldn’t have described the Derry massacre as “unjustified and unjustifiable” if the finger of blame had been pointed at Jackson.

Saville damned rank-and-file paratroopers and let the upper echelons off scot-free. The same old story. We owe it to the victims not to let this stand.

We place Bloody Sunday in the context of Ballymurphy, the Shankill, Loughinisland, McGurk’s Bar etc. And we relate it, too, to State assaults on citizens elsewhere: the collusion by cover-up in the killing of Liverpool fans at Hillsborough; the relentless massacre of young black people by police in the US; the continuing ethnic cleansing of Palestinians by the Israeli state; the persecution of the Rohingya in Myannmar; and the drowning in the Mediterranean of refugees fleeing poverty and war.

The world is awash with blood. We march for the cleansing of war and injustice from the earth.

The Bloody Sunday March is not party-political. Everyone is entitled to their own perspective. We urge people of all persuasions to join with us once again on Sunday, January 27th to signal that we won’t stop campaigning until the families of all who have lost their lives to State violence have truth and justice.

We want Jackson jailed, not for revenge or retaliation but because when the State kills its citizens it must be held to account.

Urgent Appeal

Despite increasing support for Irish freedom and unity, we need your help to overcome British and unionist intransigence. We can end the denial of our rights in relation to Brexit, the Irish language, a border poll and legacy issues, with your support.

Please support IRN now to help us continue reporting and campaigning for our national rights. Even one pound a month can make a big difference for us.

Your contribution can be made with a credit or debit card by clicking below. A continuing monthly donation of £2 or more will give you full access to this site. Thank you. Go raibh míle maith agat.