1 May 2008
Irish Republican Socialist Committees of North America

May Day 2008 Statement

The Irish Republican Socialist Committees of North America send solidarity greetings to our fellow workers and comrades in the class struggle around the world on the working class holiday of May Day, also known as International Workers' Day. We salute and share in your fight against oppression, exploitation and imperialism.

As the North American section of the Irish Republican Socialist Movement, we extend our greetings to our comrades and fellow members of the IRSM in the Irish Republican Socialist Party, Irish National Liberation Army, Republican Socialist Youth Movement, Republican Socialist Martyrs Flute Bands and Teach na Fáilte, along with all republican socialist prisoners of war. We reiterate that we remain committed to the struggle for national and working class liberation in Ireland, and working class liberation worldwide.

As this May Day dawns, the workers of the world remain exploited by a global capitalist class in its unending quest for profit. The Cuban Revolution remains defiant in the face of this and Venezuela continues to pursue a progressive path, but until the working class collectively and globally rises against the capitalist order, a better world for all will remain out of reach. We, the workers, are the ones with the power to build that world, and build it we must.

The spectre of climate change also haunts us. Capitalism cannot and will not address this in a serious manner because to do so would inevitably harm its ability to earn a profit for its small, parasitical ruling class. The solution lies in the hands of the working class and our ability to lead a revolution to create a sustainable socialist economy that can meet the needs of both our class and the planet we share. The survival and health of humankind is linked to the survival and health of the planet itself.

In the most powerful capitalist state, the United States, political debate currently revolves around which lap dog of the ruling class will lead the nation for the next four years. Fellow workers, let us be honest with you, those candidates have the best interests of the capitalist system in mind, not our interests as a class exploited by that system. No matter which candidate wins the election, the real winner will be the ruling class, and the United States will remain a bastion of imperialism and exploitation.

In Ireland, conditions are growing for a republican socialist alternative to fill the void in revolutionary politics. It is obvious that neither the Good Friday Agreement nor any other imperialist brokered settlement can resolve the fundamental contradictions at the heart of Irish society. Only a socialist Ireland with full self-determination can do that, and a socialist Ireland can only thrive if capitalism is defeated on a wider scale.

On behalf of the Irish Republican Socialist Movement, we also extend solidarity greetings to the following organizations: All-African People's Revolutionary Party, All Pakistan Trade Union Federation, Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia, Communist Party of Cuba, Communist Party of Nepal, Communist Party of the Philippines, Communist Party of Spain (Reconstituted), Debs Tendency of the Socialist Party USA, Freedom Socialist Party, Northeastern Federation of Anarchist Communists, \ Organization of Iranian People's Fedaii Guerrillas, Party of World Revolution, Peace and Freedom Party, Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, Radical Women, Scottish Republican Socialist Movement, Seattle Anti-Imperialist Committee, Unión del Barrio, United Socialist Party of Venezuela, Worker-Communist Party of Iran, Worker Communist Party of Iraq, Working Women Organization and all others who are struggling to liberate the working class from the shackles of capitalism and imperialism.

As the great Irish revolutionary James Connolly said, "The great only appear great because we are on our knees, let us arise!"

# # #

Irish Republican Socialist Committees of North America
PO Box 901479
Kansas City MO 64190-1479
USA
irscna@irsm.org
http://www.irscna.org/
http://www.irsm.org/irsm.html

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IRSCNA EASTER SOLIDARITY STATEMENT

Comrades,

The Irish Republican Socialist Committees of North America take the occasion of Easter 2008 to reaffirm our unwavering support for the leadership and program of the Irish Republican Socialist Party. We salute your tireless effort and courage in standing firm in the face of continued state repression against our movement. The example of the Irish National Liberation Army in maintaining a principled ceasefire for ten years--while not giving up arms, compromising its right to defend Irish workers, or sacrificing its own organisation for respectability--is a positive example for revolutionaries the world over to learn from. We are proud of the work carried out by Teach Na Fáilte in community activism and support for political prisoners. We also proudly acknowledge the diligent work by the Republican Socialist Youth Movement in training future party leaders. The Irish Republican Socialist Movement's honest and principled relationship with the wider anti-imperialist struggle is a living example of James Connolly's teachings, when he instructed, "march separately, strike together."

British imperialism and its allies in Ireland fear the growth of the Republican Socialist Movement, its increased confidence, level of activity, and support. The recent attacks on the party and Teach Na Fáilte amount to internment by remand, and the return of the Heavy Gang and the brutal tactics visited upon the IRSP in the past by state forces. British imperialism is still as active as ever in Ireland, only now they will utilise their junior partners from the Northern nationalist petit-bourgeoisie and Free State ruling class to implement the repression of political activists who oppose capitalism and imperialism. The Unionists are not the only lackeys of British imperialism opposing a democratic settlement in Ireland to justify the continued occupation of the island. Thus it is fair to expect that repression will continue to increase against those who have not exchanged the vision of freedom, peace, and equality that was first shown to the Irish masses in 1916 in exchange for a seat at the table administering British rule.

The IRSCNA is proud to continue representing the IRSM, building solidarity as well as giving practical aid and support to the best of our ability. We stand firm in the Republican Socialist tradition begun by Connolly and continued today by the IRSP. The IRSM's political analysis and leadership has never been as sorely needed as now: the Republican Socialist analysis and programme is the only one within Irish anti-imperialism that can both understand the line of march and lead by example.

Onward to the Socialist Republic, comrades!

# # #

Irish Republican Socialist Committees of North America
PO Box 901479
Kansas City MO 64190-1479
USA
irscna@irsm.org
http://www.irscna.org/
http://www.irsm.org/irsm.html

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

3 April 2008
Irish Republican Socialist Committees of North America

2008 Ard Fheis Report

The Irish Republican Socialist Committees of North America are pleased
to report that our first Ard Fheis since 1999 successfully occurred in
Kansas City, Missouri on 26-27 March 2008. It was a momentous
occasion for the North American section of the Irish Republican
Socialist Movement, significant not only for the time that had elapsed
since our last Ard Fheis, but also due to the fact that our activists
are spread across a vast geographical area. It also represented the
first Ard Fheis since a major reorganization of the IRSCNA in 2005. 
Meeting face-to-face as a group was a positive experience for all present.

Our cumainn representatives came from various locations in North
America--including Chicago, Kansas City and Seattle--bringing with
them diverse experiences and contributions. We would like to thank
everyone that traveled such a distance to be in attendance.

Motions were passed upholding the Irish Republican Socialist Party's
political analysis and program, sending solidarity greetings to our
comrades throughout the world, and other issues of importance to the
IRSCNA were discussed and voted on. More concretely, plans for more
assertive recruitment were discussed. It was also decided that the
Ard Fheis will now be scheduled as an annual event. Most exciting of
all, a monthly IRSCNA newsletter was launched to keep our allies,
members and supporters up-to-date on the Republican Socialist
Movement's news and to promote and broaden support for Republican
Socialism.

Lastly, a new Coordinating Committee comprised of Colm Mistéil,
Danielle Ni Dhighe and T.J. O Conchuir was elected by a vote of the
members present and officer positions were filled with Mistéil as
Webmaster, Ni Dhighe as Public Relations Officer and O Conchuir as
Prisoner Welfare Officer.

The slow but steady growth of the IRSCNA's membership and level of
activity will be sustained by the incoming Coordinating Committee's
efforts to continue to work through collective leadership and regular
meetings.

Is Muidne,

Colm Mistéil colm@irsm.org 
Danielle Ni Dhighe danielle@irsm.org
T.J. O Conchuir tj@irsm.org
IRSCNA Coordinating Committee 

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Irish Republican Socialist Committees of North America
PO Box 901479
Kansas City MO 64190-1479 
USA
irscna@irsm.org
http://www.irscna.org/
http://www.irsm.org/irsm.html

----------------------------------------------------------

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

3 April 2008
Irish Republican Socialist Committees of North America

2008 Ard Fheis Motions

Constitution/Policy

1. That Section III, Part C of the constitution be changed to have
membership fees be sliding rates based on income. The rate shall be
set by the incoming Coordinating Committee.
Proposer: Joe McCann Cumann (Chicago)
Status: APPROVED

2. This Ard Fheis declares its unwavering support for the program of
the Irish Republican Socialist Party and to the principles of
Republican Socialism established by James Connolly, Seamus Costello
and Ta Power.
Proposer: Ta Power Cumann (Seattle)
Status: APPROVED

3. This Ard Fheis applauds the Irish National Liberation Army for
maintaining a principled ceasefire for ten years.
Proposer: Ta Power Cumann
Status: APPROVED

4. This Ard Fheis recognizes the necessity of the Irish National
Liberation Army and salutes them for their determination and refusal
to decommission or disband.
Proposer: Joe McCann Cumann
Status: APPROVED

5. This Ard Fheis declares that it supports no war but the class war.
Proposer: Ta Power Cumann
Status: APPROVED

6. This Ard Fheis declares that only socialism can liberate the
workers of the world.
Proposer: Ta Power Cumann
Status: APPROVED

7. This Ard Fheis calls for full equality for gays, lesbians,
bisexuals and transgendered people, including the right to marry and
raise children.
Proposer: Ta Power Cumann, Larkin/Gino Gallagher Cumann (Kansas City)
Status: APPROVED

8. This Ard Fheis affirms the anti-colonial necessity of the growing
Gaelic revival and also affirms that the language movement can only be
successful within a socialist Ireland, not in an exclusive or
nationalist context but as part of a multi-cultural society following
the tradition of Ó Cadhain and Connolly
Proposer: Larkin/Gino Gallagher Cumann, Joe McCann Cumann
Status: APPROVED

9. We reiterate that the Irish Republican Socialist Committees of
North America represents the Irish Republican Socialist Movement in
North America and struggles to build recognition of and support for
the national liberation of Ireland and the victory of the Irish
working class in its fight for socialism. This Ard Fheis proudly
upholds the exclusivity of the IRSCNA's mandate for North America as
was reiterated by the Ard Chomhairle in 1987, and we continue to
zealously defend our mandate as the sole legitimate representatives of
the IRSM in North America against all usurpers. 
Proposer: Larkin/Gino Gallagher Cumann
Status: APPROVED

10. This Ard Fheis recognizes that the IRSCNA exists primarily as a
support group for the IRSP/M but is de facto also a revolutionary
tendency active within the North American workers' movement that
represents the woefully under-represented Marx-Engels-Lenin-Connolly
tradition. 
Proposer: Larkin/Gino Gallagher Cumann
Status: APPROVED

Solidarity/International

11. This Ard Fheis wishes to send greetings to the Irish Freedom
Committee for all their hard work on behalf of POWs families and for
the hospitality they have shown the IRSCNA.
Proposer: Joe McCann Cumann
Status: APPROVED

12. This Ard Fheis wishes to congratulate the Chicago Hunger Strike
Commemoration Committee for their respectful and unified commemoration
of the 1981 H-Block Martyrs.
Proposer: Joe McCann Cumann
Status: APPROVED

13. This Ard Fheis condemns the continued occupations of Afghanistan
and Iraq by United States imperialism and its allies, including the
British government.
Proposer: Ta Power Cumann
Status: APPROVED

14. This Ard Fheis condemns the continued occupation of Palestine by
Zionist imperialism and the continued support for that occupation by
the United States.
Proposer: Ta Power Cumann
Status: APPROVED

15. This Ard Fheis expresses solidarity with and support for: those
comrades within the PCC (Communist Party of Cuba) who continue to
uphold the gains of socialism, the All-African People's Revolutionary
Party, the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, the
super-exploited immigrant workers' movement that is continuing to
organize in the belly of the beast, the recently-formed Party of World
Revolution who have been so comradely towards the IRSM, the Communist
Party of Bohemia and Moravia which is subject to constant attacks and
criminalization by the Czech state, the Bolivarian Revolution, and all
genuinely revolutionary working class currents throughout the world
that still uphold socialism, proletarian-led self determination and
liberation from imperialism. 
Proposer: Larkin/Gino Gallagher Cumann
Status: APPROVED

Activities

16. This Ard Fheis instructs the incoming Coordinating Committee to
establish an educational program for all incoming members.
Proposer: Joe McCann Cumann
Status: APPROVED

17. This Ard Fheis encourages all cumainn and members to work harder
to host educational events such as screenings, talks, etc.
Proposer: Joe McCann Cumann
Status: APPROVED

18. This Ard Fheis instructs that the incoming Coordinating Committee
designate a Public Relations Officer (PRO) to contact Irish-American
news outlets as well as other Left organizations to help promote
Republican Socialism in the United States.
Proposer: Joe McCann Cumann
Status: APPROVED

19. This Ard Fheis wishes to recognize and thank the outgoing
Coordinating Committee for all the hard work they have done to keep
the IRSCNA going after the disastrous events of three years ago.
Proposer: Joe McCann Cumann
Status: APPROVED

20. This Ard Fheis calls upon the incoming Coordinating Committee to
update the document "What is the IRSCNA?"
Proposer: Joe McCann Cumann
Status: APPROVED

21. This Ard Fheis calls upon the incoming Coordinating Committee to
reestablish the James Connolly Prisoners' Welfare Fund and the
Republican Socialist Prisoners' Educational Fund.
Proposer: Joe McCann Cumann
Status: APPROVED

22. This Ard Fheis calls upon the incoming Coordinating Committee to
look into redesigning the IRSCNA website and have it hosted separately
from irsm.org.
Proposer: Joe McCann Cumann
Status: REJECTED (it was decided that the IRSCNA website should remain
part of the irsm.org domain)

23. This Ard Fheis calls upon the incoming Coordinating Committee to
designate a steering committee to prepare motions, suggested by the
IRSCNA membership, for the IRSP Ard Fheis later this year.
Proposer: Joe McCann Cumann
Status: REJECTED (it was decided to have the Coordinating Committee
handle this directly)

24. This Ard Fheis calls on the American working class to reject the
mockery of democracy represented by the presidential elections and
reminds the class that all of the major party candidates are agents of
the ruling class.
Proposer: Ta Power Cumann
Status: APPROVED

25. Call upon our members whenever possible to support the Hands off
Venezuela and Cuban Revolution solidarity activities. 
Proposer: Larkin/Gino Gallagher Cumann
Status: APPROVED

26. This Ard Fheis calls upon the IRSCNA Coordinating Committee to
immediately establish a regular newsletter to raise the profile of the
IRSM and make its views more widely known. 
Proposer: Larkin/Gino Gallagher Cumann, Joe McCann Cumann
Status: APPROVED

27. This Ard Fheis calls on the incoming Coordinating Committee to
establish a Prisoner Welfare Officer, Youth Coordinator and Webmaster.
Proposer: Larkin/Gino Gallagher Cumann
Status: APPROVED

28. This Ard Fheis suggests to the incoming IRSCNA Coordinating
Committee to adopt a comprehensive and assertive recruitment effort.
Proposer: Larkin/Gino Gallagher Cumann
Status: APPROVED

29. This Ard Fheis praises the efforts of the outgoing Coordinating
Committee in trying to consistently establish collective leadership as
per the Ta Power Document and IRSP Ard Chomhairle's instructions, and
we ask the the incoming Coordinating Committee to follow this example. 
Proposer: Larkin/Gino Gallagher Cumann
Status: APPROVED

Prisoners

30. This Ard Fheis sends solidarity greetings to all Republican
Socialist Prisoners of War in Maghaberry, Magilligan and Portlaoise
gaols and to all other Republican POWs in gaols in England and Ireland.
Proposer: Joe McCann Cumann
Status: APPROVED

31. This Ard Fheis condemns the actions of the Free State Government
by interning and abusing fellow members of the Irish Republican
Socialist Party and Teach na Fáilte.
Proposer: Joe McCann Cumann
Status: APPROVED

32. This Ard Fheis calls upon the Coordinating Committee to make a
financial donation to the families of recent victims of Free State
terrorism.
Proposer: Larkin/Gino Gallagher Cumann
Status: APPROVED

###

Irish Republican Socialist Committees of North America
PO Box 901479
Kansas City MO 64190-1479 
USA
irscna@irsm.org
http://www.irscna.org/
http://www.irsm.org/irsm.html