Here is another gallery of teddy-bears and soft-toys wearing “Boycott Israeli genocide” stickers in support of the children of Gaza, this time from the fencing in front of the Royal Victoria Hospital.
See also the soft-toys from the Milltown roundabout junction, former site of the Andersonstown RUC Barracks.
Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2023 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X15541 X14537 X14538 X14539 X14540 X14542 X14536 X14549
The UN Security Council last night passed resolution 2712 (UN), calling for extended humanitarian pauses in Israel’s assult on Gaza. The resolution was proposed by Malta, who wrote the resolution to focus on the plight of children. Today’s images show a selection of the teddy bears and other soft toys that have been placed on fences and lamp-posts in CNR west Belfast in memory of the children who have been killed in Gaza. It is estimated that a child dies in Gaza every 10 minutes (Reuters) and that 4,600 children have died so far (UN).
For more on the bears, see Belfast Media.
Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2023 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X14570 X14569
[X14842] X14843 X14844
“Cogús supports the republican prisoners”. Cogús (Fb) is (was?) the prisoners’ welfare arm of the RNU. The board above — using a vintage illustration going back to 1981’s I’ll Wear No Convict’s Uniform — replaced More Blacks, More Gays, More Irish on Pantridge Road, Dunmurry, joining the “Join RNU” and mental health boards shown below.
Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2023 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X14116 X14117 X14118 X14115
“Stop the slaughter – ceasefire now”. A pro-Palestinian board was added to the “International Wall”, Divis Street, and launched on November 4th. The previous Saber Al-Ashkar mural — His Land, His Legs, His Life — has been mostly painted over, with part of the mural remaining at the top and the image of a man carrying a wounded child perhaps deliberately left to the right of the board.
The image represented would appear to be an from social media (probably AI-generated, as no one can say who is depicted or where) of children sitting among their ruined house, surrounded by broken toys, including SpongeBob and Pudsey Bear, with the boy using an incorrect Palestinian flag to cover the girl.
Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2023 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X14495
X14490 [X14496] [X14498] [X14493] [X14491] [X14492]
X14512 [X14497]
X14489 [X14494] Marty Lyons
‘Let’s Talk Loyalism’ (Fb | Xitter) is an advocacy group established in May 2021 “to articulate loyalist perspectives” (News Letter). It produced a survey in September 2021 (Slugger) and is currently undertaking more research (BelTel). The tarp is hanging on the fence around the waste-ground at the top of Lanark Way, site of a #BuildShankill tarp.
See previously: No Vote, No Voice graffiti in Forthriver/Ballygomartin in 2014.
Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2023 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X14345 [X14346] X14344
This graffiti is on Kennedy Way, in CNR west Belfast, and so “Ireland” includes Northern Ireland.
Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2023 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X14312
“Stand against the legacy legislation – state murder is murder! – bill of shame”
The UK parliament adopted the “Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023” on Septetmber 6th and it became law on the 18th, preventing future inquests and civil cases. Twenty challenges have been lodged against the bill and a hearing is due to begin on November 20th with a primary focus on whether or not the bill is compatible with the European Convention On Human Rights (ITv | BBC). In the meantime – prior to the May 1st, 2024 deadline — the Springhill-Westrock inquest continues on Monday (RFJ).
This mural showing Lady Justice gagged but with a raised fist, by Iliana Edwards (ig), is on a wall outside the offices of Relatives For Justice (web).
Update: February 28, 2024: The High Court has ruled against the Act (BBC).
See previously: a call to a rally in September.
Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2023 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X14309 X14310 X14308 [X14307]
A march/rally supporting Palestine takes place in Belfast today, starting at noon and going from Writer’s Square to City Hall. The graffiti above is on the Falls Road at the Royal: “Stop the genocide. Stop “Israeli” terror. ‘Fom the river to the sea, Palestine will be free!; BDS [Boycott, divestment, sanctions (web)] IPSC [Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign (web | Fb)]”
Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2023 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X14473 X14474
Des Wilson and Noelle Ryan served the Springhill community for over forty years (see Inspire, Uphold, And Make Happy). Noelle died in 2014 (An Phoblacht) and Des in November 2019. They are remembered by this stained glass window in Conway Mill (by Mill resident Alice McGuinness (Fb)): “In memory of Father Des Wilson 1925-2019”, “Dedicated to Noelle Ryan 1932-2014”
“The Way I See It” is the title of Father Des Wilson’s autobiography (and the title of NVTv’s documentary about Des).
Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2023 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X14249 X14250 X14251 X14252 X14253 [X14254]
These images were taken in the lower and middle Falls, west Belfast. As might be expected, there is some reaction to the current conflict between Hamas and Israel: “Victory to the resistance – Free Palestine!” and “#NotMyKing” are at the closed-up Mac Diarmada club at Sráid Phort Láirge (see previously: CIRA GHQ); “Israel get out of Ireland” is on a crossing button in Beechmount.
Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2023 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X14441 [X14442] X14444 X14445 [X14446]
Extramural Activity 