Two posters from Unite: “My rent payments aren’t getting cut – why are my wages?” “Hospitality workers demand respect”. The pandemic’s economic impact is felt most acutely among those in high-contact (and non-frontline) occupations, such as clubs and pubs.
“Stop prosecuting Northern Ireland’s veterans to appease terrorists.” Danny Kinahan, former UUP politician and captain in the Blues & Royals, was appointed Veterans’ Commissioner For Northern Ireland by the SoS in August last year (2020). He described his first task as building a database of veterans and alerting each one to the services available (News Letter | BBC | Irish Times) but the position immediately puts him at the centre of the debate over “legacy” issues and a focal point of interest groups such as Veterans & Supporters United (Fb | tw) who are responsible for the banner above. In October Kinahan was quoted as saying that the system is “very lopsided” against veterans (BelTel).
Domestic abuse reports to PSNI in the second quarter of 2020 increased 4% to 8,302 (BelTel). Women’s Aid NI (web | tw) provides refuge and support to victims of domestic violence. The stencil by Laura Nelson & Leo Boyd from VaultNI is on Carrick Hill. The title of today’s post comes from Women’s Aid CEO Sarah Mason (tw).
Emigration of Irish nations outstripped their returning counterparts for most of the 2010 but stabilised in 2018 (Irish Times). (Migration data for NI nationals could not be found.) This Connolly Youth Movement (cym.ie | ig | tw account currently suspended) sticker on Northumberland Street street sign encourages young people to stay and work for change at home.
Muralist Gerard ‘Mo Chara’ Kelly (whose catalogue of work can be seen in a separate site) and others from Gael Force Art (Fb) have mounted a three-piece memorial for the centenary of the Falls Road Massacre in which four people were killed – one of them being Mo Chara’s great uncle Jimmy Shields – in a 5-minute shooting spree by a “special patrol” on the night of the funerals of three men killed by the ‘RIC Murder Gang’ (see the 2007 post). For more background see the memorial’s Facebook page.
“These four innocent local men were murdered by an RIC/British Army death squad near this spot in [September 28th] 1920: James Shields, William Teer, Robert Gordon, Thomas Barkley.” With perhaps the first appearance of a hashtag on a plaque: #fallsroadmassacre1920
Danni Simpson (ig) is looking out for your mental health, particularly under the pressure of the coronavirus pandemic. Painted in Kent Street for HTN 2020 organised by @seedheadarts and supported by @hennessy_ni.
“Socialism is neither Protestant nor Catholic, Christian nor Freethinker, Buddhist, Mahometan, nor Jews [sic]. It is only human. We of the Socialist working class realise that as we suffer together we must work together that we may enjoy together. We reject the firebrand of capitalist warfare and offer you the olive leaf of brotherhood and justice to and for all.” From part 6 of Connolly’s Labour, Nationality And Religion in 1910. The mural is in Beechview Park, across the street from Áras Uí Chonghaile/James Connolly Visitor Centre.
“Super-rich increase wealth by £25 Billion during crisis yet health workers only get applause … fight for 15% pay increase for all NHS workers.” “US super-rich increase wealth by $367 billion while workers lose lives, jobs, pay. End the rule of billionaires.”
These Socialist Party posters are in the middle Falls, including one on the red letter box outside Áras Uí Chonghaile, interpretative centre for James Connolly, founder of the Socialist Labour Party and the Irish Labour Party.
“Regardless the country, a state police force will be used as militia for the political elite against the people – fight back” – 32CSM poster with images of police brutality from around the globe, including the death of George Floyd. The stickers on the ATM itself are from Ultras Celtic/Green Brigade.