Tomás Ó Flatharta

VIGIL OF REFLECTION AND REMEMBRANCE IN SUPPORT OF THE PEOPLE OF UKRAINE

The vigil occurred from 2-4pm outside the Russian Embassy, Orwell Road, Rathgar. Despite awful weather – it rained cats and dogs – over 200 attended, and listened to readings of poetry & prose, as well as music including Christmas carols and traditional Ukrainian songs.

Irish Left With Ukraine (ILWU) activists attended, and were joined by Sinn Féin President Mary Lou McDonald TD (Dublin Central)

ILWU member John Lyons (Independent Left member of Dublin City Council, Dublin Bay North) reports

Source : https://www.facebook.com/search/top?q=councillor%20john%20lyons

A renewal of our solidarity with the people of #Ukraine 2day at the #Russian embassy: 9 months of Putin’s war hasn’t broken the spirit & resistance of the people.

Great to see Sinn Féin Ireland president @maryloumcdonaldsf showing leadership, expressing her solidarity & support for the heroic people of Ukraine.

Putin’s forces have murdered thousands of innocent people, destroyed villages, towns and cities throughout Ukraine, injured, traumatised and displaced millions of Ukrainians.

Real International solidarity means we should do all we can to support Ukraine to defeat Putin by militarily forcing his army out of Ukraine whilst welcoming those fleeing the war despite our own problems here, particularly the housing crisis.

The housing crisis has been deliberately made and sustained by the policies pursued by Fine Gael and Fianna Fail.

With real political will to use the resources of Ireland to the benefit of everyone on the island, we could end the housing crisis and welcome people fleeing war or those travelling to Ireland to make a better life for themselves.

But it means a radical change in political priorities, it means putting people’s needs before the greed of the profiteering developers, landlords, vulture funds, private health investors and all the rest of the parasites who want to make money out of our lives and struggles.

A better Ireland is possible, a society no longer governed by Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil, but we will have to fight for it.

Campaigning to end the housing crisis whilst welcoming people seeking asylum are two necessary steps on the path to a better Ireland.

John Lyons, Independent Left member of Dublin City Council, December 5 2022