A minute’s silence will take place at the Bloody Sunday memorial in Rossville Street tomorrow to mark the 42nd anniversary of the 30 January 1972 Bogside massacre in which 14 people were shot dead by British paratroopers.
The Bloody Sunday Trust and the Pat Finucane Centre are urging people to make a special effort to attend the event taking place at 4.00pm.
A spokesperson said: “This year will be different. In the wake of Saville, we hear no more nonsense of phantom bombers or gunmen from British Government, media or unionist spokespersons about Bloody Sunday.
“But, sadly, there is still denial when it comes to accepting that hundreds more unarmed civilians were killed by the British Army/RUC in addition to those murdered on Bloody Sunday.
“The Haass talks collapsed, in part, because of the alleged ‘innocent victims’ lobby who perpetrate the myth that the only ‘innocent victims’ were those killed by the IRA.
“This year, brief but powerful contributions will be made by families from Belfast, Armagh, Tyrone and Derry both as a tribute to their loved ones and as a direct challenge to those who seek to create a hierarchy of victims depending on the perpetrator and the religion of the victim. All sides were responsible for killing unarmed civilians.”
Meanwhile, at 7.30pm this Friday a free panel discussion, entitled “Dealing with the Haass?” will take place in the Foyle Drama Theatre of the North West Regional College on Lawrence Hill.
The debate will look at the Haass proposals and why they have proved so controversial and “hard to swallow for some.”
Tags: