Newry Armagh Sinn Féin Sinn Féin -- Building an Ireland of Equals

Armagh Ógra Shinn Féin Disappointment at Easter Lily Censorship

Published: 23 April, 2009

Armagh Ógra Shinn Féin has expressed its disappointment that staff members at the Armagh City Hotel were asked to remove their Easter Lilies on Monday 13th April, as republicans paraded through the city for the annual Easter commemoration to honour Ireland's patriot dead.

The employees were shocked, angry, and confused, as to why the hotel took the action they did. They were shocked that in this day and age republicans are not allowed to remember their patriot dead, angry at the lack of equality, and confused because members of staff had worn the Easter Lily for the whole week leading up to Easter without the management raising the issue. They instead waited until the day of the Easter Commemoration in Armagh City before deciding to enforce rules which discriminate against those of a Nationalist background who wish to honour their Patriot Dead in a dignified fashion.

Armagh Ógra Shinn Féin spokesperson Damian White who also works in the hotel but was not in work on Easter Monday, said

"I was dismayed and confused as to why members of staff were asked to remove their Easter lilies, I wore the Easter Lily myself in work. Although the Hotels emblems policy allows the wearing of the poppy without interference, it does not allow the Easter Lily to be worn, this policy is based on guidelines from the Equality Commission. When management did not raise the issue with me or others who were wearing the Easter Lily I thought that the hotel was showing discretion and giving the people who worked there freedom of expression, to remember their dead, in an honourable and non intrusive way."

"This decision discriminates against republicans, we feel that we are not being afforded the same liberty as those of the unionist community within the hotel. Only this weekend a Union flag was on a display stand at a conference contrary to the same emblems policy, and its removal wasn't sought by management. Yet when Upper Bann Sinn Féin held a dinner in the hotel only a few weeks ago, the tri-colour was removed from the room by management and locked in an office, this is just one example and there are others, of how the hotel is being seen as a cold place for republicans and their actions on Easter Monday will strengthen that belief."

"The hotel's action on Monday is merely a symptom of the problem. The root cause lies firmly at the door of the equality commission and their latest guideline ruling on the Easter Lily, which states the 'clear view' that the Easter Lily was not an emblem which can be worn in the workplace."

Armagh Ógra Shinn Féin took part in a protest which blockaded the entrance to the Equality Commission's Office in Shaftsbury Square, Belfast. The entrance was blocked for an hour, from 10am to 11am, in what the Ógra Shinn Féin describes as an 'act of civil disobedience at this disrespectful decision and double standards'.

"The Easter Lily should be afforded equal status. It is a crazy, archaic decision to forbid the wearing of it in the workplace or anywhere else. This blatant act of censorship has deeply annoyed republicans, who are hurt and angry that the Equality Commission would disrespect the Easter Lily and Ireland's Patriot Dead.

Our protest was aimed at highlighting the absurdity of the Equality Commission's decision in this day and age when we have Republicans in Ministerial positions in the Assembly, and we are calling for equal respect for Ireland's patriot dead, and that the proper status is granted to the Easter Lily so that it can be worn openly and freely. The days when republicans could be hounded for wearing this symbol of remembrance and of second class citizenship are over. This campaign will continue until this ridiculous decision is overturned and republican rights respected. We believe no one should be asked to remove the Easter lily as those workers were on Monday, and hope they will never find themselves in that position again"