The banning of Bernadette, who has been coming to the U.S. for more than 30yrs., shows the fear of the Bush security state as it is about to embark on its Imperialist massacre in Iraq. The anti-imperialist sentiments of the Irish are strong,-Ireland being the only 'European' country to be colonized. Direct action attacks on US war planes at Shannon have taken place and further direct action is planned. Mary Kelly who attacked a US war plane with a hatchet was recently honoured in New York by an Irish republican group. McAliskey has consistently spoken truth to power and the Bush/Blair violent warmongers fear the truth, and they fear too McAliskey's influence on the Irish in the US. Bernadette is well known in radical America. Since, as a 21yr.old member of parliament, she gave the key to the city of New York to the Black Panthers, which she had received from Mayor Lindsey, she is well known in African-American circles. The Bush/Blair madmen fear the development of a broadbased anti-Imperialist movement. Lets hope that the banning of Bernadette spurs the development of such a movement.

Bernadette Devlin should be the honorary grand marshal at all the St. Patrick's Day Parades. It is time to teach Bush and his Nazi INS that it is he and his gang who are not wanted here.

Déan suirí chan buamaí!!! Ní Úmhlóidh muid faoi Bush.
This just goes to show how all movements for social and global justice are threats to the warmongers in the whitehouse, thus all people involved in those movements are threats as well. But we know who the real threats to our future really are. Cogadh Cam Uncail Sam.
Aodh Rua

Who's a Danger?

Bernadette Devlin McAliskey was deported from the United States on February 21st as a danger to the American people. How absurd. How scandalous. Bernadette has, if anything, been a champion of the American people as they actually exist. Not the cowboys in the White House and the bigots in the board rooms, but working class people, black people, women, immigrants and dissidents.
Bernadette has always spoken out during her many trips to the United States on behalf of the marginalized and oppressed with the sincerity and depth born of her own community's subjugation. During the racist backlash in Boston to desegregation in the early 70's Bernadette proudly said she felt more at home with the black community of Roxbury than the Irish Americans of South Boston. She has stood up against the death penalty and for women's rights. She, contrary to New Sinn Fein, has always felt more comfortable speaking at a trade union hall than a 1,000 dollar a plate dinner.
Bernadette knows that the American people, in their working class and racially diverse majority, and the US government are two different things with different aspirations. Those who truly put the citizens of the US at risk are not those opposed to war but those who advocate it. Sending young men and women to kill and be killed, to handle depleted uranium and experimental inoculations against chemical weapons they previously supplied their current enemy. Those who enrage the world with their arrogance and violence. Those whose military might is so asymmetrical that only a blow against the "soft targets" of the civilian population presents itself as a response by those sadistically inclined are the real threat to the safety of the American population.
Bernadette McAliskey has proven herself a genuine friend and, through her courageous campaign against injustice in Ireland, an inspiration to those in struggle for human rights, social justice and economic equality in the United States. The real danger to the US population are the proponents of war and austerity who sit in Washington. Bernadette knows this and speaks eloquently and with conviction of our common human and class solidarity in the face of their violence and lies. And for that she is a danger, not to the American people but to the US government and that is why she was deported.

for Fourthwrite www.fourthwrite.ie

The dentention and subsequent removal of Bernadette Devlin McAliskey from the USA is an absolute disgrace and an insult, not only to Irish people, but to all who reside in the USA as well. What are her crimes? The fact that she is honest, sincere, principled? It is a sad day for America indeed when such a decent human being can be mistreated in this way especially in a nation that allowed a 'stupid white man' to steal the presidency. Next Saturday we have the honour of her presence here in Derry City when she will address a anti-war/international womens day rally. We will cherish her being here. And to you in the USA, 'the land of the free' take back that land and, once again, extend a welcome to this champion of human rights.

This is not a comment just a question; would it be impossible to remove my address from the comment posted? I realise its optional and I didn't have to give it but I didn't think it would be on screen. Dont worry too much if this not possible. Regards, James Dohert.