Statement from Belfast's WolfeTone/McCracken cumann:
As part of our commitment to help the Palestinian campaign to have the political class here in Ireland boycott the Whitehouse on St Patrick’s day, Belfast 32CSM took the decision to paint some artwork by world renowned political cartoon artist Carlos Latuff on the Falls road.
Carlos has designed some art for us in the past and were delighted when he stepped up to the mark again with this piece to highlight the fact that against the wishes of most of the people in Ireland, the political class are still going to give political cover for genocide Joe and his administration, with their presence at the Whitehouse.
The following Sunday, as some of our members joined other Palestinian activists at a boycott protest, word came to us that the mural had been vandalized with black paint being brushed over both the image and the message. We, along with other Palestinian activists, arrived at the wall and removed most of the paint, but deliberately left some there so everyone could see this crude attempt at censorship and intimidation by those clearly embarrassed by the message being sent out.
Carlos, along with thousands of others worldwide, were enraged at what had taken place and took to social media and other outlets to let their feelings be known.
So today, as the Irish political class sit down with a man directly responsible for the genocide in Palestine, we want them to know that they are not doing this in the name of the Irish people. They should feel nothing but shame when they sit down at the banquet honoring genocide Joe, as thousands of Palestinians are being slaughtered and starved to death. It’s akin to someone claiming that they were comrades of the Irish during our genocide at the hands of the British, going to feast with the genocide queen Victoria while the Irish people were starved to death and displaced in their millions.
No amount of black paint or weasel words can hide the fact that the political class here have ignored the demands of the Palestinian people to boycott the Whitehouse. They have instead chosen to stand with Biden and by default so called Israel.
We for our part will not be censored or intimidated by anyone as we highlight the failings of the political class and their paymasters in Britain, Europe and the US and will continue to highlight the Palestinian plight and their call for direct action in the form of BDS.
Beannachtaí na Féile Pádraig oraibh.
