Write a commentMembers of Saoradh held a rally at Ardmore PSNI Station in Newry at the weekend to protest against "Crown Force" harassment.
The protest was organised as a result of "an increase in PSNI/MI5 harassment directed towards Saoradh activists and supporters."
A Saoradh spokesperson commented "For the duration of the protest those attending were kept under constant surveillance by the PSNI, who monitored events with high powered cameras mounted on top of armoured landrovers. Other Crown Force vehicles were situated at opposite ends of the protest as unmarked cars circled the event. The sanger of the fortified barracks was also crammed with members of the militia, ensuring that no part of the protest was going to go unobserved."
Speaking at the rally Former republican prisoner and local Saoradh representative, Stephen Murney said "On 3rd November 2001 the Unionist militia called the RUC were stalking these streets harassing and targeting republicans. The very next day on 4th November the same state gunmen, driving the same armoured cars, carrying the same weapons and operating out of the same fortified barracks (such as this monstrosity behind me), were stalking these streets harassing and targeting republicans. However that was the day they were then rebranded as the PSNI incorporated into the RUC.
"In 2007, a mere 6 years after the name change, former comrades decided that they would embrace and support these crown forces. False and naive promises of "manners being put on them" and "accountability" being in place ensured that the long held republican demand of "Disband the RUC" would be confined to history, as one time revolutionaries settled for much less.
"Those of us who refused to go along with this charade were labelled "dissidents", "criminals" and "conflict junkies" for refusing to support Britain's armed wing. I can proudly stand here today, over a decade later and say that we were right. We were right to stay on the republican path. And we have been proven right time and time again in our analysis of the unchanged nature of British policing in occupied Ireland. The daily actions of these gun toting thugs are constantly proving that we made the right decision."
Speaking about Saoradh Mr Murney added "Just over a year ago. A new revolutionary socialist republican political party was launched here in Newry. That party's name is Saoradh. Since our formation we have come under a relentless attack by Stormonts military wing in the PSNI and MI5. Our activists across the country are subjected to daily stop and searches, house raids, arrests and imprisonment. They even targeted our national party headquarters in Belfast in a vicious raid."
