West Belfast Sinn Féin Sinn Féin -- Building an Ireland of Equals

Sinn Fein hold day of action in support of people of Palestine

Published: 17 January, 2009

Sinn Fein activists in Belfast held a day of action on Saturday, 17 January, to raise money for 'Irish Medical Aid for Palestine', a registered charity with the belief that good health is a basic right, and access to appropriate health care is an integral element of that right - one being denied the Palestinians.

Irish MAP works with all sectors of Palestinian society for the improvement of health in Palestine.

The Sinn Fein activists were out in force before 9am on Saturday morning and the day of action continued until late on Saturday afternoon.

Collections were held at Castle Street, Oldpark and Ardoyne, lower Falls, Beechmount Avenue/Falls Road junction, the SPAR at the top of the Whiterock Road, the bottom of the Whiterock Road, Park Centre, Kennedy Centre, Westwood Centre and ASDA, the Andersonstown Road beside Casement Park, Iceland at the Busy Bee and the Andersonstown Road near Connolly House.

On the Andersonstown Road, one man who had been begging for money near a Sinn Fein collection point, approached one of the collectors and put all the money he had into the collection bucket.

Over 10,000 leaflets in support of the people of Gaza were also handed out to motorists and passers-by. The leaflets ran out around lunchtime on Saturday, such was the interest from the public.

A large white-line protest was also held on the Andersonstown Road outside the Felons Club at 3pm on Saturday.

Around 200 republicans took part in the protest, including Deputy First minister Martin McGuinness, junior minister Gerry Kelly, MEP Bairbre de Brun and Sinn Fein MLAs Sue Ramsey, Paul Maskey and Jennifer McCann.

The turnout at the white-line protest was outstanding, given the horrendous weather conditions on Saturday afternoon.

Sinn Fein MEP Bairbre de Brun, commenting on the day of action, said:

''Our activists have been out all over Belfast today in great numbers collecting for Irish Medical Aid for Palestine and showing our support for the long suffering people of Palestine.

''The response from the public has been exceptional, with over 10,000 leaflets handed out by our activists in a matter of hours.

''The messages of support from the community have been fantastic, and people were happy that they were able to help the people of Gaza in a practical way by contributing to the collections.

''Thousands of pounds have been raised so far and, when added to the collection boxes that are in shops and bars, the amount raised will be phenomenal and is a testament to the generosity of the people of Belfast.

''Sinn Fein has been vocal in our support of the people of Gaza and we are continuing to call for an immediate ceasefire and the total withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Gaza strip.

''The slaughter that has gone on in Palestine has been horrendous and we will continue to highlight the enormous wrong which the Israelis are inflicting on the Palestinian people.''