The 1981 hunger strikes began on the 1st of March, when Bobby Sands began refusing food. A total of ten people died before the strike ended in October.
Contemporary documents from the National H-Block / Armagh Committee, People's Democracy, IRSP and others are in our collection here: https://www.leftarchive.ie/subject/2692/
#OnThisDay 18th of July 1981, a march in support of the Hunger Strikers campaign, ongoing since March of that year, ended with violent clashes outside the British Embassy after a Garda baton-charge, in which more than 200 people were hurt.
https://www.leftarchive.ie/calendar/on-this-day/07/18/#event-5714
![A clipping from an article, reading: On the 18th. July thousands of people from all over the country mobilised in Dublin for a march on the British Embassy in support of the Hunger Strickers [sic]. Before reaching the Embassy however, the marchers were stopped at Merrion Rd. by a wall of cops in riot gear, seceral [sic] rows deep. This strategy of confrontation and intimidation, meant to frighten people off the streets and deny them expression, was resisted by many brave comrades who tried to fight their way through. The cops held rank for fifteen minutes and then charged. Their violence and brutality as they ran riot, beating everyone in their path was pyscotic [sic].](https://posts.leftarchive.ie/attachments/8c6eb86e326568e35fde6afc59d3e23f7598c44612e70f3c1275f21c6747c5f0/rs_embassy_clash.jpeg "A clipping from an article, reading: On the 18th. July thousands of people from all over the country mobilised in Dublin for a march on the British Embassy in support of the Hunger Strickers [sic]. Before reaching the Embassy however, the marchers were stopped at Merrion Rd. by a wall of cops in riot gear, seceral [sic] rows deep. This strategy of confrontation and intimidation, meant to frighten people off the streets and deny them expression, was resisted by many brave comrades who tried to fight their way through. The cops held rank for fifteen minutes and then charged. Their violence and brutality as they ran riot, beating everyone in their path was pyscotic [sic].")
Published #OnThisDay, 13th October 1981:
Rebel, No. 46, on the end of the Republican hunger strikes.
Rebel was produced by Revolutionary Struggle in the late 1970s and early 80s.
Published #OnThisDay 5th September 1981:
Armagh/H-Block News, from the Armagh/H-Block Action Group, associated with the Communist Party of Ireland (Marxist-Leninist).
New document:
H-Block/Armagh News, Vol. 1, No. 6, 26th September 1981
Produced by the Armagh/H-Block Action Group, a campaign from the Communist Party of Ireland (Marxist-Leninist) during the 1981 Hunger Strikes.
#OnThisDay, 18th July 1981, a march in support of the Hunger Strikers campaign, ongoing since March of that year, ended with violent clashes outside the British Embassy after a Garda baton-charge, in which more than 200 people were hurt.
https://www.leftarchive.ie/calendar/on-this-day/07/18/#event-5714
Through #writing, #interviews, and actions (including several #HungerStrikes), Jarvis also works to bring direct attention to the systemic problems with the penal and #CriminalJusticeSystems.
This is the story of one man, but it is not just one man’s story. Jarvis’ plight is at once an indictment of our #LegalSystem and a sobering plea for #SystemicReform. Helping to free Jarvis Masters isn’t merely an act of compassion – it’s an ethical imperative.
6/7
#OnThisDay 11th June 1981 a general election was held in Ireland, resulting in a minority Fine-Gael & Labour coalition government.
Several candidates stood for the Anti H-Block Committee, which supported the on-going Republican hunger strikes, with Paddy Agnew and Kieran Doherty elected.
#OnThisDay 1st of March 1981, hunger strikes began when Bobby Sands started refusing food. A total of ten people died before the strike ended in October.
New document:
"19 Arrests - Campaign Will Not Be Intimidated!"
Armagh/H-Block News, Vol. 1, No. 5, 19th September 1981, from the Armagh/H-Block Action Group.
Active during the 1980/1 Hunger Strikes, the group was associated with the Communist Party of Ireland (Marxist-Leninist).
You'll find Vincent's election leaflet as a Hunger Strikes candidate in the 1981 general election in the archive.
