The May, 1916 execution of Easter Rebellion leaders could not stop the march to Irish freedom. Nor could the murders of Ballymurphy and Bloody Sunday end the fight for equality in Northern Ireland. “But Ireland’s peace in the era of Brexit,” noted Past National President Ned McGinley of Wilkes-Barre, “is threatened again by UK corruption of the peace process and post- Brexit economic havoc. The voices of Americans are again needed to win the fight for Ireland’s peace and democracy.”
Seamus Boyle, former AOH National President from Philadelphia stated “We launch this appeal in Pennsylvania where Hibernians’ first flourished in America.” Boyle explained Americans from all walks of life are being asked to contact Members of Congress to oppose the return of a hard partition border. “Any new US-UK trade deal, “concluded Boyle, “should be contingent on Britain’s full compliance with the GFA.”
The May, 1916 execution of Easter Rebellion leaders could not stop the march to Irish freedom. Nor could the murders of Ballymurphy and Bloody Sunday end the fight for equality in Northern Ireland. “But Ireland’s peace in the era of Brexit,” noted Past National President Ned McGinley of Wilkes-Barre, “is threatened again by UK corruption of the peace process and post- Brexit economic havoc. The voices of Americans are again needed to win the fight for Ireland’s peace and democracy.”
ANCIENT ORDER OF HIBERNIANS IN AMERICA:
OPEN LETTER TO AMERICANS
May, 2019 The fraternal Order of Hibernians works quietly throughout America in support for Catholic hospitals, schools and churches, promoting patriotism and fighting anti-Catholic and Irish bigotry that still periodically rears it ugly head. However, our more public persona is the love our members have for the rich Irish heritage of Americans and their pride for the achievements, often in the name of St. Patrick, of Irish men and women throughout the world. This is an appeal to the Hibernia family, friends and neighbors and to all Americans.
The Irish peace process secured by the 1998 Good Friday Agreement (GFA) and its related pacts are in peril. This British government has ignored its human rights and Irish language obligations; seeks amnesty for British soldiers involved in killing innocent civilians in N. I.; and obstructs investigations for 30 or 40 years into the killing of hundreds of Catholic civilians. This British government has claimed the GFA has outlived its usefulness.
Britain’s battle to leave the European Union (EU) is being used as a cover (1) to break the GFA commitments and (2) to restore a hard border partition wall that has virtually disappeared under the GFA. Britain is doing this despite the democratic vote in N. I. to remain in the EU. The UK has also proposed regulations to strip the citizens of N. I of their EU citizenship. The British intend to compliment the political bullying of Ireland by adding post-Brexit economic bullying using tariff that will wreak havoc on Ireland’s agricultural and export sectors.
The United States alone has the power to compel Britain’s compliance with the GFA and to prevent Britain’s harm of Ireland’s economy. We appeal to Americans to support congressional oversight with public hearings on the peace process and the economic impact of Britain’s Brexit policy’s on Ireland’s 32-counties. Until such hearings are held and judgements reached, there should be no new US-UK trade deal adopted. Please join us in defending the GFA and upholding the promise of peace with justice. In this we must be resolute. We dare not fail.
Joe Roche Noel McGinley Seamus Boyle
National President National President National President
1984-88 2002-2006 2008-2012
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