Tony Taylor statement about Bloody Sunday March 2018

“ A Chairde Friends and Comrades,

It is with deep regret that I find myself having to issue this statement about an event which I have supported all of my life, an event which I would hope and pray should continue until the aims and objectives of the original Bloody Sunday March are finally achieved. When the courageous and I believe correct, decision was taken by some family members to continue with the march, in opposition to a highly orchestrated campaign to end this now famous and significant political annual event, I along with thousands of others stood shoulder to shoulder with those brave family members and helped initiate this new series of marches. In common with many others we believed that the new marches would encapsulate the values and principles, aims and objectives for which we had marched since 1972. My first concerns as to the marches political direction, and here I believe I speak for many others, began to emerge with the creation of what has become known as the organizing committee. When I first heard that a committee had been formed I wondered who they were? Who elected or appointed them? Did they consist of family members? Or to whom they were answerable to? To this day I could not answer any of these questions. However given that the priority was to make the march a success these questions were left unasked in the midst of pragmatic organisational demands. Last year however my concerns were greatly enhanced when the organizers decided that my wife could not speak on the main platform on my behalf despite the fact that the march originated as an anti internment protest and that at that time I was the only Derry man interned in the six counties. This snub was further compounded when they asked her to speak at a fringe meeting on the same platform with someone who by his own admission worked closely with MI5, the same people who have me imprisoned.

Nevertheless the success and continuation of the march took precedence over any personal or political concerns.

This year however has brought matters for me to a head. I may be incarcerated here without charge of trial; however that is not to say that I am here without cause. I am here because of my republican politics and principles and I will not allow any dilution of these principles whether caused by well meaning supporters of otherwise. Last year my family and I made it clear as to how we viewed any representation for me sharing a platform with an individual with suspected MI5 connections. The release of this year’s disgraceful Bloody Sunday poster, associating me with the same individual, without any reference to my family or consideration of my views, has forced on me the decision not to support participation in this year’s march. My family will not be associated with an event which equates the violence of the state with the violence of the oppressed. To see British soldiers names, the name of MI5 associated individuals, state sponsored massacres and cover ups, the state sponsored internment of republican activists because of their political views or indeed the deaths and wounding of any of our people by crown forces being given the same status and equality of injustice as regrettable and unintended tragedies occasioned by an armed struggle against an army of occupation is a travesty and not in my view reflective of what the Bloody Sunday Campaign was about nor indeed the aims and objectives of the original Bloody Sunday March in 1972.

I fully agree that this march and event has become symbolic of worldwide resistance to injustice, as was outlined in the first statement announcing the continuation of the March. It should however never become the property of any single political group. For my families part we reiterate that we will not be participating in this year’s march. I cannot speak for anyone else but would call on all those who wish the event to continue in future to consider through open and democratic discussion how this can be achieved.

Is mise le meas”

Tony Taylor