eirigi activists are occupying Anglo Irish NOW. Support needed

by Ah Jasus Sat Apr 24, 2010 10:49

I would have been quite happy to have seen non-aligned people taking this action.

Fair play to Éirígí anyway

by Charles B. Sat Apr 24, 2010 13:12

Well done for carrying this out.
While many may not agree with your politics, most agree with why you are doing this.
Hope that it gets good, or at least some, media coverage.

by barryg Sat Apr 24, 2010 13:56

Fair play and well done, about time someone took a proper stand.

by JB Sat Apr 24, 2010 14:51

Fair play to all you comrades who are taking part in this direct action.. lets see more of this!!

Solidarity from Derry!!!

by éirígí PRO - éirígí Sat Apr 24, 2010 15:06 info at eirigi dot org

Occupation has now ended. This is just the start. See link for more details

by bp Sat Apr 24, 2010 15:56

Congrats to those involved in the protest both inside and outside Anglo - it was good to note all the beeps from cars going past - I hope that this is just the start of putting street pressure on the authourities to start taking action on our financial disaster - we have gits like Fitzpatrick and David Drumm having their loans written off while the rest of us idiots will face higher bank charges and taxes to pay for them - look forward to the direct targetting of these individuals

by old codger - pensioner Sat Apr 24, 2010 16:40

WELL DONE EIRIGI
I hope your actions will pave the way for more people to take courage and demonstrate their anger to the corrupt idiots that have ruined our country.

by Fergus Sat Apr 24, 2010 16:49

Well done to the Eirigí for their protest, in and out, quick as you like, lovely little way to spend a Saturday aternoon. It was good to hear that no arrests were made afterwards; interesting to hear too.

by DÓFalluín Sat Apr 24, 2010 18:06

I was up at the National Museum doing a bit of work, but swung by about 1pm. A very decent crowd, with people outside distributing the mock proclamation re: Nama.

A Labour Youth demonstration seemed to be kicking off about 2pm, the same time the Eirigi one was wrapping up. Plenty of media cameras there too. Interesting to observe the response from the public, which seemed to be very supportive. Plenty of honks.

I agree with Fergus, it is interesting to note the lack of arrests. Public feeling on the matter couldn't be more obvious.

Effigy

by Maura Harrington - S2S; Davitt League Sat Apr 24, 2010 20:16

Well done and thank you to all involved!

The no arrest (with no violence instead of arrest) is indeed interesting.

Let's all keep it up ...

by Deirdre Clancy Sun Apr 25, 2010 00:38

You are to be congratulated for this one. It totally beats me why anybody is bothering to save this bank. I know not everybody working there played a role in the corruption, but there must have been a good number of people there who at least knew what was going on and didn't engage in whistleblowing. Presumably, requirements to report suspicious transactions to the MLROs and Regulator don't apply in Anglo when it's the senior people in bank itself who are doing it?!

Matthew Elderfield has been brought in from abroad to tidy things up, but he is getting pressure from politicians and facing resistance at every turn, though his role is supposed to be independent. That's the type of country we're living in - greasy hands in the till.

It's a scam that this type of institution and work culture is being bailed out by the taxes of those of us ordinary workers who are facing a really bleak, opportunity-deficient future in Ireland because of these and other gombeens. The race to the bottom is only just beginning as well.

by DownHearted Sun Apr 25, 2010 11:09

While I also feel very pleased to see people providing lawful street resistance to the grave forms of wrongdoing that the bankers are indulging themselves in, I also feel that such street resistance will never be enough (by itself) to stop the rot, even though the wrongdoing in question is literally wrecking society here right before our very eyes, and many, many other societies all over the world as well.

That said, I don't know what we (the normal citizens) can do by way of providing the additional support that yesterday's street protestors appear to me to so badly need, when the international bankers now appear to have full control over everything of importance to them, and can easily see off all such challenges.

Small street protests are a bit like trying to resist a Russian tank with a water pistol; you can certainly try it, but it won't do any good.

"People Power", in the form of really massive street protests involving huge numbers of people, might provide the answer.

Unfortunately, Albert Einstein's observation suggests -- to me at least -- that this sadly will not happen:

"The world is a dangerous place, not because of those who do evil, but because of those who look on and do nothing."

The international bankers are well aware of this, and they know that all they have to do is to gently keep on getting the MAJORITY of the people to gradually keep on accepting more and more of their social abuses, which they have been successfully doing for several centuries now.

As a result, we have now ended up with a national "culture", one of several similar cultures around the world, which far too readily accepts the overall set of social abuses that are at present coming from the cartel of international bankers, and which are not -- not by any means -- SENSIBLY or SAFELY acceptable at all (or anywhere close to it even).

We have slowly but surely been "led up the garden path" by the international bankers? -- and now none of us, in practice, REALLY know how to get out of our truly shocking predicament?

by Ruined Sun Apr 25, 2010 15:28

Our government, all three of the main branches of it, Executive, Legislative, and Judicial, is owned (lock, stock and barrel) for all practical purposes, by the international bankers.

Worse still -- horror of horrors -- the international bankers (via our Judiciary) also own our legal system.

That's why changing the Executive part of our Government (in a general election say), is a complete waste of time, as is having a general election even.

People like Enda Kenny and Eamon Gilmore (and the other party leaders) will all vigorously try to pretend to the electorate -- while managing to keep a straight face -- that they can solve our core set of financial and closely associated social problems: given the opportunity (by the electorate).

In reality though, all they can do is to provide a change of puppets, and ongoing cover for their puppet masters.

by Fred Johnston Sun Apr 25, 2010 15:28

Nice one, decent show of courage. The whole Anglo deal stinks to high Heaven. As 'Fingers' Fingleton told The Irish Independent re: Irish Nationwide and his time there, he knows where the bodies are buried. Same could be said at Anglo. If Fingers or Seanie ever take the stand they'll undoubtedly name names and dates. That will not be allowed to happen. Fianna Fáil are up to what passes for their balls in that party in the liaison between developers and banks and we don't have a clue how deep, or high, that reaches. Fair play to you - the people will speak on this eventually.

by Realist Sun Apr 25, 2010 19:35

I have no doubt the people will speak on this eventually, and the people may even succeed in bringing about a change in the Executive part (one-third) of our government.

But what good will that do us, if the international bankers are all still to be left silently and secretly running the whole "overall show" from behind the scenes?

It certainly will not stop the unconstitutional and consequently unlawful "great giveaway" of our massive oil and gas reserves (for example).

As past events have shown, our Judiciary can be fully relied upon to consistently back the international bankers, and their very closely associated "big business" partners -- such as Shell Oil for example -- right up to the hilt.

If we, as a Nation, are ever to get back on our feet, control of our government has to be taken away from the international bankers, and brought back to the people of the Republic of Ireland in accordance Article 6.1 of our written Constitution (Bunreacht na hEireann), which very clearly states:

"All powers of government, legislative, executive and judicial, derive, under God, from the people, whose right it is to designate the rulers of the State and, in final appeal, to decide all questions of national policy, according to the requirements of the common good."

The big problem is that NOBODY seems to know how to achieve this in practice: because the rot is already too deep and too far advanced.

We, as a Nation, don't even seem to know how to HONESTLY face up to this awful problem that we are now tangled up in regarding the international bankers, and the sickening and grossly unhealthy stranglehold they have been allowed to get on us: let alone successfully release ourselves from their grip (by peaceful and lawful means).

by Congrats Mon Apr 26, 2010 16:37

Congratulations. Your direct action is a lesson to the rest of self-declared radicals on the Irish left. Eirigi are consistent and practice what they preach. Anarchists should watch and learn.

by video Mon Apr 26, 2010 18:01

Great footage at the end as they leave the building to chants of 'regulation doesnt work - let thebanks burn'

Caption: Video Id: h4W_edUYJyY Type: Youtube Video
éirígí occupation of Anglo Irish Bank 24th April 2010

by Bazooka Joe Mon Apr 26, 2010 19:24

The effigy of Seanie Fitzpatrick hanging was great. The speaker was correct when he said that this is what should happen to everyone involved in the economic treason conspiracy. Great action there. Respect to all involved.

by Le Cheile Mon Apr 26, 2010 21:57

Great stuff from Eirigi and hopefully Saturday's event will act as a spark to further actions. Not sure why 'congrats' feels the need to have a pop at anarchists though. There were members of the WSM present on Saturday and they have worked with Eirigi on previous direct actions particularly on the Shell to Sea campaign. Surely the point is that groups on the left should work with each other and not use this positive action to have a go at comrades on the left. Incidentally I think Eirigi and others on the left in Ireland could learn a lot from the actions of anarchists in Greece!

by Congrats Mon Apr 26, 2010 22:19

"Surely the point is that groups on the left should work with each other"

Very true but the WSM and anarchists in general have made it clear over the years that they are unwilling to work with anyone. They have completely alienated themselves. This is obvious in the current recession. Leftist groups, with the exception of the anarchists, are working with each other all over the place (but tend not to use indymedia to promote this).

I also agree that Eirigi do not have much to offer "the progressive left". Given that it is the only group WSM seem willing to work with speaks volumes about each others lack of political direction.

But, at least Eirigi are consistent and practice what they preach. The WSM attend and support the direct action of Eirigi but never directly orchestrate. This is understandable. The two organisations have a completely different social base. Eirigi, for all their faults, are hard line republicans with a long history of direct confrontation with the state. The social base of Irish anarchists is predominately from university-intellectual ciricles. Nothing wrong with this. Just an observation that explains why one actively engages in direct action whilst the other talks about direct action.

Eirigi have a brighter future.

by Le Cheile Mon Apr 26, 2010 22:51

"Eirigi, for all their faults, are hard line republicans with a long history of direct confrontation with the state. The social base of Irish anarchists is predominately from university-intellectual ciricles. Nothing wrong with this. Just an observation that explains why one actively engages in direct action whilst the other talks about direct action. Eirigi have a brighter future. "

Your contribution is riddled with contradictions and is certainly not the sort of attitude that is going to progress the radical left in Ireland. But sure carry on with your elitist view and see how far it gets you. Thankfully Eirigi has a different view.

by Ger Tue May 04, 2010 16:28

Hopefully there will be an even bigger crowd outside Anglo on May 15th.