5.10.04
News Letter
Anniversary Of Civil Rights March Marked
Monday 4th October 2004
Two hundred people marched in the footsteps of history on Saturday.
They retraced the route of the original Saturday, October 5, 1968, civil rights march in Londonderry which ended in violence - an event which historians agree was a milestone in the history of the Troubles.
In the 36th anniversary march from Waterside railway station in Duke Street to Guildhall Square the procession was led by three of the original organisers, Eamonn McCann, Dermy McCaghanan and Johnny White carrying a banner with the slogan - The Struggle Goes On.
After the veterans of '68 and present-day campaigners had marched through the city on Saturday in pouring rain, speakers at a rally in Guildhall Square voiced their opposition to racism, homophobia,-injustice, Muslims being held in custody in Britain and war in the Middle East.
Mr McCann said: " Thirtysix years ago there were no marches for the gay community, there were no marches for Muslims, for the black community, but we marched then for the rights of people who were oppressed.
"In today's land we have new peoples who are being oppressed and we march for them today."
Veteran McCann closed his speech by saying: "We call for people not to attack the Fountain estate. We demand the cessation of homophobic attacks and racist beatings. " We continue to fight against injustice with the support of marginalised communities throughout the world."
Anniversary Of Civil Rights March Marked
Monday 4th October 2004
Two hundred people marched in the footsteps of history on Saturday.
They retraced the route of the original Saturday, October 5, 1968, civil rights march in Londonderry which ended in violence - an event which historians agree was a milestone in the history of the Troubles.
In the 36th anniversary march from Waterside railway station in Duke Street to Guildhall Square the procession was led by three of the original organisers, Eamonn McCann, Dermy McCaghanan and Johnny White carrying a banner with the slogan - The Struggle Goes On.
After the veterans of '68 and present-day campaigners had marched through the city on Saturday in pouring rain, speakers at a rally in Guildhall Square voiced their opposition to racism, homophobia,-injustice, Muslims being held in custody in Britain and war in the Middle East.
Mr McCann said: " Thirtysix years ago there were no marches for the gay community, there were no marches for Muslims, for the black community, but we marched then for the rights of people who were oppressed.
"In today's land we have new peoples who are being oppressed and we march for them today."
Veteran McCann closed his speech by saying: "We call for people not to attack the Fountain estate. We demand the cessation of homophobic attacks and racist beatings. " We continue to fight against injustice with the support of marginalised communities throughout the world."
