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Anti-Imperialist Action Ireland

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Anti-Imperialist Action Ireland
Gníomh Frith-Impiriúlach na hÉireann
AbbreviationAIA
Founded2017 (2017)
Youth wingÓige Réabhlóideach/Anti-Imperialist Youth
Ideology
Political positionFar-left
Colours
  •   Black
  •   Green
  •   White
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Anti-Imperialist Action Ireland or AIA Ireland is an Irish socialist-republican organisation that advocates for the establishment of a socialist state in Ireland through a socialist revolution.[citation needed] The group was founded in 2017. Since then, it has undertaken a number of protest actions across Ireland. The organisation has described itself as "a broad front" opposed to what it calls "British, EU and US imperialism" in Ireland.

Ideology

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AIA describes itself as a socialist-republican organisation that campaigns against what it calls "British, EU and US imperialism" in Ireland.[1] AIA says it aims "to finish the work" of historical Irish socialists such as James Connolly, and Seamus Costello, founder of the Irish Republican Socialist Party (IRSP) and the Irish National Liberation Army (INLA).[2] It opposes the Good Friday Agreement and "reformism"; not participating in elections and opposing a border poll as it believes this is a pacification strategy. It instead proposes mobilising workers into creating "alternative power structures" and building an "Anti-Imperialist Broad Front".[3][non-primary source needed]

History

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In 2018, AIA painted over three street signs on Victoria Road in Dublin because it was named after Queen Victoria and encouraged others to do the same to other street signs bearing the names of British officials.[4] The same year, Israeli politician Gilad Erdan sent a formal letter of protest to the Irish government demanding they stop Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine member and former airplane hijacker Leila Khaled from appearing over a video call to members of AIA and another Republican group called Lasair Dhearg[a] during a public talk held at the teacher's club in Dublin. The protest was unsuccessful and the call was not cancelled.[5]

Since 2019, the organization has conducted and encouraged "Poppy Watch Patrols" to forcibly prevent the Royal British Legion from collecting remembrance poppy donations.[6]

Throughout 2020, AIA ran a political campaign against the extradition of Real IRA member Liam Campbell to Lithuania on charges of weapon trafficking.[7] In 2009, Campbell had been found guilty in a civic court of participating in the 1998 Omagh bombing.[8]

In June 2020, unknown persons painted rainbow colours on a statue of former IRA leader Seán Russell.[9] AIA released a pamphlet defending Russell, and maintained that Irish republicanism and LGBT liberation were allied, not opposed, causes.[10] Seán Russell was IRA Chief of Staff during World War II, whose tenure was marked by the increasing influence of Irish fascist group Ailtirí na hAiséirghe over the organisation,[11] as well as Russell's direct collaboration with Nazi Germany.[12][13]

In August 2022 the group was criticised by Traditional Unionist Voice leader Jim Allister for burning a Union Jack in a video which he dubbed a "hate crime". The flags of the Parachute Regiment and the Ulster Banner were also burned in the video.[14]

In September 2022, a gathering of AIA members in Dublin mocked the death of Queen Elizabeth II by throwing a coffin marked "RIP British Empire" into the River Liffey.[15][16][17]

In November 2022, AIA claimed responsibility for a paint attack on the headquarters of the Royal British Legion in Dublin.[6]

In August 2023, AIA alongside the Communist Party of Ireland took part in a protest in Dublin to denounce the Irish Defence Forces providing training to members of the Ukrainian Army, which they said went against Irish neutrality.[18]

In October 2023, AIA organised a march to Glasnevin Cemetery in Dublin, to commemorate hunger striker Thomas Ashe. It was led by masked men in berets and dark uniforms.[19]

In November 2023, pro-Palestinian and pro-Hamas flyers, bearing the AIAI logo, were posted on lampposts near a synagogue in Bangor, Maine, United States. At least one bore the AIAI logo.[20]

Associated organisations

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The group has a youth wing called Óige Réabhlóideach[b].[21]

The Revolutionary Housing League is heavily affiliated with the AIA.[22]

See also

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Notelist

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  1. ^ Irish for "Red Flame"
  2. ^ Irish for "Anti-Imperialist Youth"

Reference

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  1. ^ "Masked Republican colour party in berets and sunglasses march through Dublin". Sunday World. 2023-10-08. Retrieved 2024-04-10.
  2. ^ "Anti Imperialist Action Ireland". Anti-Imperialist Action Ireland. Retrieved 2023-09-11.
  3. ^ "Reject the Border Poll- Smash Britain's Border!". Anti-Imperialist Action Ireland. 12 September 2019. Retrieved 21 September 2023.
  4. ^ "Republican group stages 'action against colonialism' by spraying over 'Victoria' on Dublin street sign". TheJournal.ie. 6 July 2018.
  5. ^ Bachner, Michael (31 May 2018). "Israel urges Ireland to cancel speech by Palestinian terrorist". Times of Israel. Retrieved 21 September 2023.
  6. ^ a b Cousins, Graeme (6 November 2022). "Paint attack on Royal British Legion headquarters in Dublin branded 'utterly pathetic'". Belfast News Letter. Retrieved 21 September 2023.
  7. ^ "Stop the Extradition of Liam Campbell". Anti-Imperialist Action Ireland. 24 October 2020.
  8. ^ "Four found liable for Omagh bomb". RTÉ News. 2009-06-08. Retrieved 2009-06-08.
  9. ^ Slater, Sarah (23 June 2020). "Base of Seán Russell statue painted in rainbow colours". The Irish Times. Archived from the original on 13 July 2020. Retrieved 23 June 2020.
  10. ^ "It is right to tear down reactionaries. Hands of our patriot dead!". Anti Imperialist Action Ireland. 2020-06-25. Retrieved 2023-11-28.
  11. ^ Douglas, R. M. (2009). Architects of the Resurrection: Ailtirí na hAiséirghe and the Fascist 'New Order' in Ireland. Manchester University Press. ISBN 978-0-7190-7998-6.
  12. ^ Hanley, Brian. "Russell, Seán". Dictionary of Irish Biography. 16 March 2022.
  13. ^ Hanley, Brian (2005). "'Oh here's to Adolph Hitler'?…The IRA and the Nazis". History Ireland. Archived from the original on 17 July 2020. Retrieved 6 July 2020.
  14. ^ "TUV's Allister brands video of group burning flags a hate crime". Belfast Telegraph. 13 August 2020. Retrieved 21 September 2023.
  15. ^ Cumiskey, Neasa (2023-09-11). "Coffin marked 'RIP British Empire' thrown into River Liffey during Queen's funeral". Sunday World. Retrieved 2023-09-11.
  16. ^ "Coffin marked 'RIP British Empire' thrown into Liffey during anti-monarchy march". BreakingNews.ie. 2022-09-19. Retrieved 2024-04-10.
  17. ^ "March against monarchy takes place in Dublin". uk.movies.yahoo.com. 2022-09-19. Retrieved 2024-05-01.
  18. ^ "Demonstrators protest against Ireland giving weapons training to Ukrainian troops". TheJournal.ie. 22 August 2023. Retrieved 21 September 2023.
  19. ^ "Masked Republican colour party in berets and sunglasses march through Dublin". Sunday World. 2023-10-08. Retrieved 2024-06-15.
  20. ^ Weidmayor, Marie (November 21, 2023). "Pro-Hamas flyers found outside Bangor synagogue". Bangor Daily News. Retrieved April 10, 2024.
  21. ^ "New All Ireland, Revolutionary Anti Imperialist Youth Movement Launched". Anti-Imperialist Action Ireland. 28 October 2022.
  22. ^ "Big progress for radical housing campaign". Republican News. Retrieved 2024-04-10.
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