Another Brick In The Wall

The IRPWA/Saoradh/éıstıgí office on the Antrim Road is courting controversy (Irish News | BelTel) with its the holiday images in its front windows. On the right, a Grinch in PSNI uniform (in front of a bleeding poppy with swastika) harasses the child of a Soaradh member. (“Hey, peelers! Leave our kids alone” is a play on the Pink Floyd song ‘Another Brick In The Wall‘). On the left, Santa takes aim with a home-made RPG (modelled on the image included in Resistance). The Derry IRPWA office also received a Grinch cartoon in which he is battering down a door.

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Copyright © 2018 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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Same Aim – Different Name

The Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) was reformed in 2001 as the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI), as recommended by the Patten Commission. This Saoradh (webFb | tw) tarp in Hugo Street questions the extent to which the force has changed. The traditional RUC officer in bullet-proof vest is on the left; the modern officer on the right is more heavily protected. In the centre, the PSNI emblem overlays the old RUC one, with Stormont in the background.

For the board celebrating the 100th anniversary of the Easter Rising, see versions in AndersonstownArdoyne | St James.

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Copyright © 2018 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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Frontline Of British Occupation

This is a tarp from republican party Saoradh (“liberation” web | tw | Fb), alleging that the “supposed police service in the north of Ireland” is engaged in “the brutal militarised suppression of a civilian population”. “The uniform may be different but the brutal tactics are the same.” “End human rights abuses in Ireland now”. Replaces the Resistance tarp (previously seen in Ardoyne).

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Copyright © 2017 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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Met With Resistance

A bleeding poppy, representing the conquests of the British Empire, is added to the PSNI officers in riot gear, part of a Saoradh protest of political policing at Creggan shops. “End PSNI/MI5 abuse.”

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Sniper At Work

The vintage South Armagh “sniper at work” “road sign” is revived, along with a modern PSNI officer in hi-vis coat in the crosshairs, on an electricity pole in the Bogside, Derry.

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Hearts & Minds

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“This police force is after your hearts and minds. The true face of this force: harrasses [sic] and stalks Republicans and their families; works hand in glove withe MI5, NCA and British Army; uses informers to spy and up ‘Persons of Interest’; gives immunity to criminals in return for information. From RUC to PSNI – unchanged, unchanging, unchangeable.” IRSP poster in Oakman Street.

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Copyright © 2016 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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No RUC

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A vintage small board dating back to 1995, still visible in Abercorn Street, London-/Derry.

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Copyright © 2015 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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Civil Order, Plastic Death

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“Since 1970 seventeen people killed – including eight children”. A vintage poster against plastic bullets (see also Plastic Death in the Peter Moloney Collection for a mural) is part of this Beechmount Avenue mural showing a candle for each of the victims. The first listed (Rowntree, Molloy, Friel) were killed by rubber bullets, the rest by plastic; plastic bullets took over from rubber bullets in 1975 (WP).

Panels 10-15 of the ‘murdered’ follow to the right of the Plastic Bullets board, here presented two-at-a-time. The 11th panel (the second one shown here, with Francis Bradley in top left) was previously the ninth panel; it is not clear why its position was swapped.

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Copyright © 2015 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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To Protect Partition And To Serve Capitalism

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The Royal Ulster Constabulary, Police Service of ‘Northern Ireland’, and An Garda Síochána are branded as agents of the status quo, enforcing the partition of Ireland and the capitalist system in this IRSP mural on Northumberland Street: “Know your enemy – reject political policing”.

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Copyright © 2016 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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PSNI Out

“Republican lower Ormeau – PSNI out.”

Graffiti in Dromara Street, south Belfast.

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Copyright © 2014 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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