Chicago Hunger Strike Commemoration Committee

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT:
Chicago Hunger Strike Commemoration Committee

Colm Mistéil - Chairman
Deirdre Fennessy, Irish Freedom Committee (Chicago Cumann)
TJ O Conchúir, Irish Republican Socialist Committees of North America
http://www.wemustbeunited.com

CHICAGO, IL – April 20th, 2009

Twenty-eight years ago, ten brave men stunned the world by their agonizing deaths on Hunger Strike in Long Kesh jail in Ireland. Seven political prisoners allied to the Irish Republican Army, and three representing the Irish National Liberation Army, sacrificed their lives to expose injustice and brutality in British jails and to restore Political Status to their imprisoned comrades. These ten martyrs, united in cause and principle under different factions of Irish Republicanism, left an unfulfilled legacy of strength in unity to Irish Republicans today

In 2009, the Chicago Hunger Strike Commemoration Committee will again gather together in unity to pay homage to the memories of the ten H-Block Martyrs, who gave their lives in the fight for political status in the H-Blocks of Long Kesh 28 years ago.

Please join us on Saturday, June 6th at the Abbey Pub, 3420 W Grace, Chicago IL. We are pleased welcome Ray Collins, formerly of Belfast, as our guest speaker and musical performer. During the Hunger Strikes of 1980 and 1981 Ray visited the prisoners, played numerous benefit gigs, and embarked on speaking tours in Britain and Europe to highlight the struggle for Political Status by Irish political prisoners in the H Blocks of Long Kesh and Armagh women's prison.

The Chicago Hunger Strike Commemoration Committee was founded in 2006 to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the 1981 H-Block Hunger Strike. In the spirit of Theobald Wolfe Tone, who sought to unite “Catholic, Protestant and Dissenter”; in acknowledgement of the leadership of the Easter 1916 Rising, which united disparate Republican forces against the might of Britain’s army; and most especially in the memory of the 1981 hunger strikers, who died united in protest inside the H-Blocks of Long Kesh; The Chicago Hunger Strike Commemoration Committee will do our part in unity to pay respectful homage to the legacy of ten brave men who sacrificed all for Ireland. We are a diverse group of Republicans from the Irish Freedom Committee, Irish Republican Socialist Committees of North America, as well as independent Republicans. All involved are devoted to the pursuit of a United and Sovereign 32 County Socialist Irish Republic, free of British military and administrative rule; and to the support of the families of Irish Republican political prisoners.

For more information call 708-655-2078, 312- 560-9311 or visit our website at www.wemustbeunited.com.