Irish American Organizations Send Angry Letter to Bush re. Pending Adams' Visa Denial

Published: 24 February, 2006

ACTION ALERT

Below is the letter by the major Irish American organizations sent to President Bush with regards the pending denial of Gerry Adams' fundraising visa.  This is an outrage at this point in the Irish peace process that Sinn Fein has carried on its back for the past ten years. 

 

Please contact the Dr. Condoleeza Rice [Secretary of State] and Dr. Mitchell Reiss [Special Envoy] at US State Department to protest this abuse of power and insult to Irish America. 

General Switchboard:  202-647-4000; 

Email a question or statement:  www.contact.us.state.gov/

____________

Unity in Action Committee

of Irish American Organizations

 

President George W. Bush

The White House

1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20500

Dear President Bush, 

We understand that you are considering to once again bar Gerry Adams from attending a fundraising event for his own party, unless Sinn Fein endorses the PSNI.

This move by the US Administration is galling and mystifying to Irish Americans, as policing reform is currently the subject of delicate negotiations between Sinn Fein and the British government. 

The Patten recommendations on policing, a compromise position to begin with, have only been 75% implemented by the British government's own analysis.   However, new legislation that establishes control and accountability under shared, democratic power sharing, could go a long way to changing the ethos of abuse, political opportunism, and pro-unionist power.  Policing has always represented unionist political power over the nationalist community. 

The U.S. has, in the past taken a positive role in the Irish peace process.  Today, it is becoming a souring and petty influence.  We find the current U.S. position counter-productive, one sided, and focused upon hearsay and innuendo, while at the same time ignoring real unionist violence.

The U.S. government should be a force for democratic progress, not exclusion.

A visa denial to Gerry Adams would be a repudiation of efforts by Irish republicans who persuaded the IRA to totally decommission and adopt exclusively political means to progress its goals. It would also constitute an open affront, not only to Irish Americans who supported the political path, but also shows a complete lack of understanding of the nature of the nationalist community and their patience with the whole political process. Sinn Fein is the largest nationalist political party in Northern Ireland. Doesn't their mandate and efforts to move the peace process forward count for anything in the United States, a nation established upon democratic principles? 

This issue is of vital interest to the members of our various organizations and we would appreciate a prompt clarification.

Sincerely,  signed by the presidents/chairs of:

*  Americans For a New Irish Agenda

*  Ancient Order of Hibernians

*  Brehon Law Society

*  Irish American Labor Coalition

*  Irish American Unity Conference

*  Irish Deportees of America Committee

*  Irish Northern Aid

*  Irish Parades Emergency Committee

Cc:       Dr. Condoleeza Rice

            Secretary of State

            Dr. Mitchell Reiss

            Special Envoy

           U.S. Department of State

            2201 C Street NW
Washington, DC 20011