BY ANDY BUCHANAN AND MARY NELL BOCKMAN
NEW YORK - One hundred fifty people protested in front of the federal building in Manhattan June 3 demanding that the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) stop deportation proceedings against 20 Irish political activists living in the United States. The British government continues to demand their return to the United Kingdom to face frame-up trials or serve out sentences for convictions under British occupation of Northern Ireland.
Gabriel Megahey, one of the activists facing deportation who has lived in the United States for 20 years, marched with his wife and daughter, both U.S. citizens. He explained that the INS recently decided that his conviction on charges of attempting to ship arms to the Irish Republican Army in 1981 could be used as the basis for deportation, despite a federal court decision to the contrary. A final decision will be made in his case in late summer.
Martin Galvin, a member of the National Executive Committee of Irish Northern Aid (INA), said at the rally, "These men are being victimized by our government at the behest of the British government. It is wrong to sacrifice fundamental justice because the British government wants their heads on a platter. America should not be sending them back to face persecution."
Many participants wore the green ribbons of the Saoirse/Freedom campaign, which has organized rallies and marches in Ireland, Britain, and the United States to demand freedom for all Irish political prisoners. Eight hundred activists remain in prison in Ireland, Britain, Germany, and the United States. Signs and chants at the demonstration demanded freedom for the nearly two dozen in U.S. jails.
The previous day, more than 800 people gathered in Astoria, Queens, for a banquet celebrating the 25th anniversary of Irish Northern Aid. The group campaigns to raise financial and political support for Irish republican political prisoners and their families.
Supporters from New York were joined by delegations from Philadelphia, Boston, and Connecticut.
Joe Cahill, joint national treasurer of Sinn Fein and a founder of Irish Northern Aid, addressed the gathering. Thanking INA for its efforts, Cahill explained that mobilizing support for the Irish freedom struggle in the United States was "critical and necessary to help us gain peace and justice in Ireland. We want to see the people of Ireland united, whether Catholic, Protestant, or Dissenter, those with religion or with no religion."
To loud cheers, Cahill said, "We are now in the final phase of the struggle for freedom in Ireland." He cautioned, however, that "Irish Northern Aid's role is as crucial as ever. There can be no let up as long as there are prisoners in Britain, Ireland, Europe, or here. We want them home!" Cahill also urged support for those facing deportation and demanded an end to U.S. government persecution of Irish activists.