As part of the ongoing #PoppyWatchPatrols campaign, members of Anti Imperialist Action this week confiscated Brit Imperialist Poppy Wreaths in Bray County Wicklow, and burned them.
The Poppy Wreaths were set on fire while a Socialist Republican unfurled the Flag of the All Ireland Republic that flew over the GPO in 1916.
A spokesperson for the Socialist Republican group said, ‘Anti Imperialist Action this week confiscated Brit Poppy Wreaths that had been laid at the war memorial in Bray and set them alight, in a symbolic act of resistance against British Imperialism in Ireland.
Brit Imperialist symbols have no place in Ireland and wherever the Brit Poppy or Poppy Wreaths are reported to us, we will remove and burn them. We congratulate our growing Dún Laoghaire/ North Wicklow Coiste on this successful direct action.’
The spokesperson continued ‘Anti Imperialist Action is building an All Ireland #BritsOutNow campaign to build mass popular resistance against the illegal British Occupation of Ireland.
Actions have already taken place in Belfast, South Armagh, Dublin and Wicklow as the Campaign grows across the country. Other actions are being planned as the campaign continues to gather momentum.’
The spokesperson concluded, ‘Symbolic actions such as the burning of Poppy Wreaths demonstrate that there continues to be organised resistance against British rule in Ireland. The Poppy is not a symbol of remembrance, but is used by the Brit Legion to raise funds for serving members of the British Military, including those who continues to maintain the partition of Ireland through force of arms. Burning the symbols of British Imperialism, although a small action, demonstrates that there continues to be Irish Citizens committed to National Liberation and Socialist Revolution, and as Chairman Mao proclaimed, ‘A single spark can light the prairie fire’!