IRSN: San Francisco St. Patrtick's Day Parade Presence
14 March 2010
The Bay Area comrades of the International Republican Socialist Network once again ensured a republican socialist presence at the San Francisco St. Patrick's Day parade (held the Saturday prior to St. Patrick's Day in San Francisco, unlike many other cities holding such parades) again this year, as they have done consistently since 1983.
The IRSN contingent led off with the Starry Plough flag held aloft by IRSN comrade Mary McElroy who was followed by a crimson banner bearing the words of James Connolly: "The cause of labour is the cause of Ireland; the cause of Ireland is the cause of labour," which was greeted by applause throughout the length of the parade.
The banner was followed by the Anti-Imperialist Contingent, participants from various organizations of the Left, marching in solidarity. This year those participants included the All-African People's Revolutionary Party, the San Francisco and Alameda County Peace and Freedom Party chapters, and Bolshevik Tendency. The IRSN thanks all of the organizations participating in the Anti-Imperialist Contingent this year. Members of the Anti-Imperialist Contingent carried their own identifying banners and distributed leaflets for the major anti-war mobilization planned for March 20th to the crowd along the parade route.
The marchers were followed by the IRSN's mobile unit in the parade; a van bearing the logo of the International Republican Socialist Network along with a salute to the memory of the Limerick Soviet on the occassion of its 90th anniversary.
Following the parade, the IRSN comrades hosted a social for all of the contingent's participants, feature 'traditional Irish' Margaritas and Nachos (they've become a tradition with the IRSN's Bay Area comrades anyway). At the social, IRSN comrade Peter Urban provided an update from his recent travels to Belfast, Derry, and Strabane and meetings he had with leading members of the Irish Republican Socialist Movement, as well as comrades formerly in the IRSM. He further reported that the IRSN had made a contribution to Teach na Failte (an organization for former INLA prisoners of war) while he was in the six counties and that the IRSN had pledged to continue their material support to Teach na Failte , continue support for republican socialist POWs, and to initiate support for any efforts initiated to provide internal political education for the rank-and-file of the IRSP.
Following this, the parade participants from the IRSN and supporting organizations engaged in lively discussion of a many of the pressing issues confronting socialist activists today and a pleasant time was had by all.
The Bay Area comrades of the International Republican Socialist Network would like to again thank the comrades of the A-APRP, P&FP, and BT who participated in the Anti-Imperialist Contingent this year. In conclusion, the IRSN would like to reassert the importance of ensuring a visible profile for republican socialism in any undertaking focusing attention on Ireland and express our pride in doing so consistently over the past 27 years in the San Francisco Bay Area.
ENDS
The Bay Area comrades of the International Republican Socialist Network once again ensured a republican socialist presence at the San Francisco St. Patrick's Day parade (held the Saturday prior to St. Patrick's Day in San Francisco, unlike many other cities holding such parades) again this year, as they have done consistently since 1983.
The IRSN contingent led off with the Starry Plough flag held aloft by IRSN comrade Mary McElroy who was followed by a crimson banner bearing the words of James Connolly: "The cause of labour is the cause of Ireland; the cause of Ireland is the cause of labour," which was greeted by applause throughout the length of the parade.
The banner was followed by the Anti-Imperialist Contingent, participants from various organizations of the Left, marching in solidarity. This year those participants included the All-African People's Revolutionary Party, the San Francisco and Alameda County Peace and Freedom Party chapters, and Bolshevik Tendency. The IRSN thanks all of the organizations participating in the Anti-Imperialist Contingent this year. Members of the Anti-Imperialist Contingent carried their own identifying banners and distributed leaflets for the major anti-war mobilization planned for March 20th to the crowd along the parade route.
The marchers were followed by the IRSN's mobile unit in the parade; a van bearing the logo of the International Republican Socialist Network along with a salute to the memory of the Limerick Soviet on the occassion of its 90th anniversary.
Following the parade, the IRSN comrades hosted a social for all of the contingent's participants, feature 'traditional Irish' Margaritas and Nachos (they've become a tradition with the IRSN's Bay Area comrades anyway). At the social, IRSN comrade Peter Urban provided an update from his recent travels to Belfast, Derry, and Strabane and meetings he had with leading members of the Irish Republican Socialist Movement, as well as comrades formerly in the IRSM. He further reported that the IRSN had made a contribution to Teach na Failte (an organization for former INLA prisoners of war) while he was in the six counties and that the IRSN had pledged to continue their material support to Teach na Failte , continue support for republican socialist POWs, and to initiate support for any efforts initiated to provide internal political education for the rank-and-file of the IRSP.
Following this, the parade participants from the IRSN and supporting organizations engaged in lively discussion of a many of the pressing issues confronting socialist activists today and a pleasant time was had by all.
The Bay Area comrades of the International Republican Socialist Network would like to again thank the comrades of the A-APRP, P&FP, and BT who participated in the Anti-Imperialist Contingent this year. In conclusion, the IRSN would like to reassert the importance of ensuring a visible profile for republican socialism in any undertaking focusing attention on Ireland and express our pride in doing so consistently over the past 27 years in the San Francisco Bay Area.
ENDS