in the Fermanagh 'extremists' shown up as lies.
issues in would you paign?
The politica prisoners, the achieved une great deal.
The twelve years' the original campaign, heavy organisation Photo: JOANNE O'BRIEN organised masses.
Collullice there was formative meetings.
mobilising Bernadette McAliskey, 'the heart and soul of the campaign' for Socialist Challenge 16 April 1981 among the minority in the Six Counties and the What sort of balance sheet make of the autumn hunger strike camH-Block campaign grew up around the single issu status prisoners five demands. Following the end of the hunger strike, by January, it was clear that we had not demands.
Nonetheless, we had achieved a H-Block campaign mobilised the largest number of activists since the beginning of the civil rights movement. We laa me opportunty or a si cond run. We had learnt fron mistakes. The H-Block campaign was not like La top unEvery locality that was involved had its own elected local With very few ex ceptions, the method followed was to call a public meeting in an area. If there were signs tha enough support what we did tirst was hold in The hunger strike itself was very important as a focus for people The numbers of people who came out on the streets were much bigger than we had believed were possible in starting fact those mobilised in 1968-69 was even greater had taken, to its toundations.
Whereas came out this time ihat remained to be oppression.
they knew about up multalle out tens tional day of action. not in threw balance. and South Tyrone byhave everyone out, that had The increase in the political weight of the demonstrations When people came out in 1968-69, they had no idea of the serious step they no idea • that they were going to rock this country the people knew thi price that had to be paid and paid for standing up to protest against The people who came on the streets this time knew Bloody Sunday, knew of peo ple shot by the British army the harassment you face atter you and let yourself be And yet they came out in bigger numbers.
This time we got the South moving, and that was of crucia We did not pul thousands workers on the 1 December nawe wen position to call a But we turned what had been an attitude of apathy and hostility into one of sympathy, and we began to organise it, including in the workplaces. We the establishment off At the height of the campaign, the church was afraid to go against us. The police were
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THE victory of hunger striker Bobby Sands election is a dramatic demonstration of the continued strength of nationalist sentiment All the accusations that the Republican movement represents only a tiny minority of 'terrorists' Nobody in Fermanagh and South Tyrone could have been in the least doubt what the
knows that until he began his hunger strike Sands was the Officer Commanding the Pro-