107cowgate

By Larry Pinkney “History is important. If you don’t know history it is as if you were born yesterday. And if you were born yesterday, anybody up there in a position of power can tell you anything, and you have no way of checking up on it.”—Howard Zinn The infamous U.S. government’s Counter Intelligence Program … Continue reading »

A great new song by The Ocrastra about James Connolly is launched today on the anniversary of his execution. From Ocrastra This song is released on the 97th anniversary of James Connolly’s death on 12 May 1916. All the artists involved in recording this hope that you pass the song on to as many people … Continue reading »

By Larry Pinkney “There comes a time when silence is betrayal.” –Martin Luther King Jr. “I’m for truth, no matter who tells it. I’m for justice, no matter who it is for or against. I’m a human being, first and foremost, and as such I’m for whoever and whatever benefits humanity as a whole.” –Malcolm … Continue reading »

Republic Day at James Connolly’s birthplace. Organised by the James Connolly Society and the 1916 Societies.

The Justice for the Craigavon Two group welcome todays acquittal of Brian Shivers, Brian’s case has many similarities with the case of the Craigavon Two, Brendan McConville and John Paul Wootton. Both the Massereene attack and the killing of PSNI member Stephen Carroll happened in a four day period, the state response to both attacks was swift … Continue reading »

A Co. Antrim councillor who belongs to a group set up to campaign for the release of two men convicted of killing police officer Stephen Carroll believes she may be under security force surveillance. Anita Cavlan, who is an independent councillor in Ballymoney, says she has been told she may be monitored because of her involvement … Continue reading »

By Larry Pinkney “Without general elections, without unrestricted freedom of press and assembly, without a free struggle of opinion, life dies out in every public institution, becomes a mere semblance of life, in which only the bureaucracy remains as the active element.”—Rosa Luxemburg “The memory of oppressed people is one thing that cannot be taken … Continue reading »

Statement from the ‘Justice for the Craigavon Two’ campaign group. 29/04/13 Today both Brendan McConville and John Paul Wootton were returned to Maghaberry Jail on the first day of their appeal against the wrongful conviction for the killing of PSNI officer, Constable Carroll. It was with a sense of disbelief in the opening moments of … Continue reading »

By Tom Stokes Charles Gavan Duffy, editor of The Nation newspaper which he established in 1840 with Thomas Davis and John Blake Dillon, explained why they chose that particular name for the paper, saying “We desired to make Ireland a nation and the name would be a fitting prelude to the attempt.”. The same thinking guides the … Continue reading »

By Larry Pinkney “In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends.” –Martin Luther King, Jr.  “Hide nothing from the masses of our people. Tell no lies. Expose lies whenever they are told. Mask no difficulties, mistakes, failures. Claim no easy victories.” –Amilcar Cabral The narrative … Continue reading »

By Larry Pinkney “Freedom is always and exclusively freedom for the one who thinks differently.”—Rosa Luxemburg Whenever the U.S. corporate/military government, and its corporate-stream media propaganda arm, seek to discredit persons who do not accept their packaged narrative of past and present events, it describes such persons as so-called ‘conspiracy theorists.’ Ironically, the United States … Continue reading »

By Jim Slaven (@JimSlaven) Republicans in Edinburgh were very sad to hear of the death of South Armagh republican Jim McAllister. Below we republish Pat McNamee’s oration. I met Jim many times in the late 1980′s and early 1990′s at various republican events in Ireland. During that period I would use every opportunity to encourage him … Continue reading »

By Tom Hayden President Hugo Chavez was a man in a hurry to change his country, his region and the world. Perhaps he knew he would die at a youthful age, but I believe it was because he recognized that time was always standing still for the poor. He wanted the blind to see, the … Continue reading »

The Connolly Cycle Challenge 2013 will take place on Saturday 18th May. The Connolly Cycle Challenge is administered by the James Connolly Society but all proceeds go to registered charities. This is a great event which raises money for two great charities, this year the recipients are The Connolly Foundation and the Tommy Burns Skin … Continue reading »

By Fidel Castro A few days ago I mentioned the great challenges humanity is currently facing. Intelligent life emerged on our planet approximately 200,000 years ago, although new discoveries demonstrate something else. This is not to confuse intelligent life with the existence of life which, from its elemental forms in our solar system, emerged millions … Continue reading »

By Jim Slaven (@JimSlaven) Tomorrow there will be a demonstration calling for an end to the criminalisation of football fans in Scotland. The demonstration will take place at George Square in Glasgow at 12 noon. Although organised by Celtic supporters in response to the behaviour of the police towards Celtic supporters this protest should be supported … Continue reading »

By Larry Pinkney “If you’re not willing to die for it, put the word ‘freedom’ out of your vocabulary.” –Malcolm X [el-Hajj Malik el-Shabazz] “Our revenge will be the laughter of our children.” –Bobby Sands In the year 1978, then U.S. ambassador to the United Nations Andrew Young, publicly stated that, “There are hundreds, perhaps … Continue reading »

By Tamara Pearson “I’ve told her, she won’t be the first lady, but first combatant, first patriot, first socialist, the first woman of the people of the barrios,” said Nicolas Maduro of his wife Cilia Flores. He is the revolution’s candidate for the 14 April presidential elections, following the passing of Hugo Chavez, and polls … Continue reading »

By Larry Pinkney “Mastery of language affords remarkable power.”—Frantz Fanon “And in such a world of conflict, a world of victims and executioners, it is the job of thinking people, as Albert Camus suggested, not to be on the side of the executioners.”—Howard Zinn Language is an incredibly powerful tool. It can be used for great good or enormous … Continue reading »

This coming Easter Monday the Apprentice Boys will once again have an unwanted sectarian triumphalist march through Ardoyne, Mountainview and The Dales against the wishes of the vast majority of local residents who remain opposed to such open expressions of sectarianism in their area. Permission for this march has been granted by the discredited Parades … Continue reading »

In late 2012, former Minister of Culture of the Black Panther Party Emory Douglas met with Zapatistas and local artists in the Mexican state of Chiapas. The trip was initiated by Caleb Duarte from EDELO who describes the project as: “A multimedia exploration of the artistic and political connections between the Black Panther Party and the Zapatista movements as … Continue reading »

This article, by 107 Cowgate’s Jim Slaven, first appeared at Tal Fanzine. The referendum campaign in Scotland is well under way and almost all politics is dominated by the 2014 vote. Every political statement and decision is viewed through the prism of the constitutional debate. For Irish republicans in Scotland our position on the referendum … Continue reading »

This interview was conducted by Independent Republican News and the original can be viewed here. Following the recent announcement that a date has been set (29 April 2013) for the appeal of the ‘Craigavon Two’ (Brendan Mc Conville and John Paul Wootton) who were convicted of the killing of PSNI Constable Carroll in 2009, IR … Continue reading »

Today is the 130th anniversary of the death of Karl Marx. Here is a short talk (and cartoon) by David Harvey which the great bearded one might have enjoyed.

By Larry Pinkney “Of all our studies, history is best qualified to reward all research.” –Malcolm X [el-Hajj Malik el-Shabazz] “History is important. If you don’t know history it is as if you were born yesterday. And if you were born yesterday, anybody up there in a position of power can tell you anything, and … Continue reading »

International Women’s Day was marked in Belfast with a wreath-laying ceremony at the Women’s Garden of Remembrance on the grounds of the Roddy McCorley Club on the Glen Road. The event was organised by the Irish Republican Martyrs Commemoration Committee, and the main address was given by independent Lisburn councillor Angela Nelson. Below we republish the … Continue reading »

107 Cowgate has published many articles and films on Hugo Chavez and the Bolivarian revolution in Venezuela. Here is a great documentary by John Pilger, The War on Democracy, which gives an insight into the revolution and its Commandante.

Bobby Sands kept a diary for the first seventeen days of his hunger strike, which began 32 years ago today. Sunday 1st March I am standing on the threshold of another trembling world. May God have mercy on my soul. My heart is very sore because I know that I have broken my poor mother’s … Continue reading »

“Publicists of all kinds, philantropists, literary men, lovers of their kind, poets, brilliant writers, artists, have all been conquered by the valiant heroism of the Dublin workers …” James Connolly spoke these words about the 1913 Lockout – the 100th anniversary of which occurs this year. Indeed, it is through the most famous novel of one … Continue reading »

Great video by the Justice for the Craigavon Two campaign. Please share to highlight this miscarriage of justice. Follow the campaign: Justice for the Craigavon Two On Facebook On Twitter  

Peadar O’Donnell was born on February 22nd in Donegal, in 1893, and was educated locally and at St. Patrick’s College, Dublin. He became a school teacher in Donegal but in 1918 gave up teaching to become organiser of the I.T. and G.W.U. He joined the I.R.A. and at the Truce was OC. 1st Northern Division. … Continue reading »

This documentary, James Connolly – A Working Class Hero, is a comprehensive look at the life and work of James Connolly. From his birth in Edinburgh’s Little Ireland to his execution by the British state and via his life in the United States this great documentary explores Connolly and his times. Featuring contributions from the … Continue reading »

On Huey P Newton’s birthday here is the Spike Lee film version of Roger Guenveur Smith’s play A Huey P Newton Story. Smith also stars in the award winning film version.

By Larry Pinkney “Each generation must discover its mission, fulfill it or betray it, in relative opacity.”—Frantz Fanon Serious political activism, like history itself, is both ongoing and dialectical in breadth, depth, and scope. It cannot be worn and then conveniently removed like a pair of gloves. Whether it is acknowledged or not, every generation … Continue reading »

By Larry Pinkney “I believe that there will ultimately be a clash between the oppressors and those who do the the oppressing. I believe that there will be a clash between those who want freedom, justice, and equality for everyone and those who want to continue the system of exploitation. I believe that there will be that kind of … Continue reading »

This is a great animated video outlining proposals for a 1916 Rebellion Museum to be situated in Moore Street, Dublin. The Moore Street buildings are where a wounded James Connolly was taken after retreating from the GPO and is also where the leaders of the rising decided to surrender. There is a campaign to save … Continue reading »

By Fidel Diaz Castro I don’t think there is another joke stronger made by a head of State to another. It is true that in this case was that made by a father to a son playing, and a game it was. On 18 January 1999 Latin American Stadium, Fidel and Chavez had agreed to … Continue reading »

By Pádraic Mac Coitir With many parts of the country affected by the recent cold weather, and three recent deaths in Dublin and Wicklow attributed to hypothermia, a former blanket man reflects on his time in the H-Blocks during the winter of 1978. I was walking through a snow storm in Colin Glen recently and was … Continue reading »

By Larry Pinkney “The most potent weapon in the hands of the oppressor is the mind of the oppressed.”—Steve Biko Today, more than at any period in recent history, there is a need for a genuine Everyday People’s Consciousness Movement in the United States. This movement must embrace people of goodwill of all colors, and … Continue reading »

GARC Statement in relation to PSNI differences in policing Loyalist protests as opposed to residents protests. For the past six week Loyalists, led by the UVF and various factions of the UDA, assisted by the Loyal Orders and Unionist politicians have been engaged in illegal roadblocks across the Six Counties with the vast majority taking … Continue reading »

Fascinating insight from IPS into the key role of Hugo Chavez in the ongoing peace talks between Farc and the Colombian Government.  By Constanza Vieira Colombia has suffered an internal armed conflict for so many decades that it almost amounts to a “forgotten crisis” for external donors. But the president of neighbouring Venezuela, Hugo Chavez, is well aware … Continue reading »

By Larry Pinkney “Killing one person is MURDER – Killing 100,000 is FOREIGN POLICY” – Anonymous “I believe that there will ultimately be a clash between the oppressed and those who do the oppressing. I believe that there will be a clash between those who want freedom, justice and equality for everyone and those who … Continue reading »

By Jim Slaven The unionist protests across the Six Counties over the decision of Belfast City Council to reduce the number of days the union flag is flown over City Hall are now in their second month. The most serious trouble has centred on parts of Belfast where the UVF have been orchestrating a campaign … Continue reading »

The government of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela is complying with its duty to inform the Venezuelan public and our sister nations about the clinical progress of President Hugo Chávez. Following a delicate surgery on December 11, Commander Chávez has faced complications as a result of a severe respiratory infection. This infection has led to … Continue reading »

The Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela Official Communiqué Through this message the government of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela is fulfilling its responsibility to inform the Venezuelan public of President Chavez’s clinical progress following his surgical intervention, carried out in Havana, Cuba, on 11 December . As is well known, on 28 December we travelled to … Continue reading »

By Larry Pinkney “There s no flag large enough to cover the shame of killing innocent people.”—Howard Zinn The horrific December 14, 2012, massacre of innocent victims in Newtown, Connecticut, now joins a litany of horrible massacres—including the Columbine massacre (Colorado) on April 20, 1999, the Virginia Tech massacre (Virginia) on April 16, 2007, the … Continue reading »