from Neil Cosgrove, PEC Chairman …
Brothers:
All signs point to things heating up on the Political Education front, Brexit still poses a threat to Ireland, both north and south. Let us remember that the people of Northern Ireland rejected Brexit by 56% and the citizens of the Republic of Ireland had no vote in the referendum at all, yet Ireland will disproportionately bear the brunt of Britain’s decision to leave the EU. This threat includes the real possibility of a hard border as a result of a hard Brexit which appears more likely every day. We have seen recent statements by the UK immigration minister that appear to redefine Irish Citizenship in the North in contravention of the Good Friday Agreement. The Stormont government is still in collapse, Finally, we have the tragic death of a journalist in Derry. Anyone who thinks that the Good Friday Agreement, a treaty guaranteed by the United States, is not in peril is frankly not paying attention. Yet, we still do not have a US Special Envoy to Northern Ireland. It is clear that Britain is banking on a sweetheart trade deal with the United States to offset the economic losses of Brexit, we should make clear to our elected representatives that the systematic dismantlement of the Good Friday Agreement will not be underwritten by such an agreement. Our cry should be “No Fulfillment of Good Friday, then No Deal”.
Our effectiveness Brothers on Peace in Northern Ireland, a fair Immigration Policy toward Ireland, the right to life from conception to natural death, fair recognition of the contribution of the Irish to our nation and an elimination of defamation targeting the Irish are dependent on YOU. I ask you to please add to your Hibernian oath a commitment to make that phone call or send that email when a call for action goes out. Our chairs should be able to faithfully represent that they have 40,000 Hibernians behind them. I frequently hear that this group or that seems to get their agendas though. The sad thing is that they are often far smaller than us as Irish Americans, but when something touches on their agenda they are active and speak out. Sadly many pundits have written off Irish America as a force, lets resolve to prove them wrong and as Hibernians be the voice of Irish America.
