IRISH FREEDOM COMMITTEE® NEWSLIST
www.irishfreedomcommittee.net
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Subject: Irish Freedom Committee Political Status Pickets Continue - REPORT
Date: May 19, 2005


Chicago – IFC Political Status Pickets Continue


The Chicago Unit of The Irish Freedom Committee will continue our weekly pickets this Saturday from Noon to 2PM at the British and Free State Consulates, 400 N. Michigan Avenue, at the Chicago River and Michigan Avenue.

The IFC have held pickets at the Consulates every Saturday since St. Patrick's Day weekend. Our pickets have been totally peaceful and very informative to crowds on the busy, tourist-filled street. We have received extremely encouraging feedback from passers-by and motorists, and even a few Chicago police!

REPORT FROM LAST WEEK'S PICKET (May 14, 2005)

It was an interesting day last Saturday at the weekly Irish Freedom Committee pickets in front of the British and Free State consulates.

A contingent from the Chicago chapter of the IFC held the fort as usual in front of the British consulate on what turned out to be a sunny and warm Saturday. The beautiful weather was a welcome change from the usual windy, damp and near-freezing Chicago River conditions.

Our group held placards, a large tri-color and a large banner reading "RESTORE POLITICAL STATUS TO IRISH REPUBLICAN POWs". We distributed informational fliers describing the ongoing crisis at Maghaberry and other jails, and the failure of the "GFA" to gain peace or sovereignty for Ireland.

Our pickets were made all the more pleasant when a street performer sat down nearby and proceeded to play "The Foggy Dew", much to our great delight!

Things took an interesting turn when someone from within the Embassy building threw white paint directly down on the area where we were standing. (See photo) This did not force us to move, but merely strengthened our determination to stay.

Shortly thereafter, a group of three unidentified, armed individuals came out of the Consulate building and began photographing and taping our pickets. One of these individuals has been previously observed video-taping our pickets. As we watched them, they turned their backs to us and, in a clearly implied threat; two of the three unidentified individuals simultaneously lifted their shirts to expose weapons-- as if we hadn't seen them already.

The IFC view this display as an implied threat to stifle our right to peaceful free speech and our right to assemble. We have consulted with local lawyers groups on this matter. However these threats and the small-minded paint attack have only increased our resolve to be back at the steps of the British Consulate again this Saturday as
usual. Crowd response has been fantastic, with many people stopping to talk with us at length about the situation, and what they can do to help. Many people have committed themselves to adopting a POW to write to, and tourists from across the country have inquired about getting more involved in their areas.

The Irish Freedom Committee continues the work in the United States of raising awareness of ongoing human rights abuses for Irish Republican POWs in British and Irish jails, and the loss of Political Status under the designed-to-fail "GFA" Peace Agreement.

For more information about joining the Irish Freedom Committee in your area, or joining our Political Status pickets, please contact The
Irish Freedom Committee through our website link below or send an email to: Saoirse-at-irishfreedomcommittee.net (substitute @ for
-at-)

Tiochfaidh ár Lá!!


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