As I mentioned the other day, the third and most recent Bloody Sunday happened in Derry, Ireland, on January 30, 1972.  The English perpetrated others in 1887 and in 1921.  In Derry, the brutish . . . I mean, british . . . okay, brutish military began firing live bullets on unarmed protesters, murdering fourteen.  Most were shot in the back.

In 2010, then UK prime minister David Cameron gave an “official” apology to the people of Derry.  However, the “official” policy in England is still that the ones who committed the crimes will never be punished.  Boorish Johnson has actively tried to prevent it.

Sinn Féin produced this twenty minute film to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Bloody Sunday, and to remember its victims.

This is why I will never wear a poppy.

Below the fold, a news report and a few songs to commemorate the day.  No, I did not forget certain songs (i.e. the ex-beatle, the two character band name).  They’re intentionally excluded.

The Museum of Free Derry held its annnual Bloody Sunday Lecture.    For the fiftieth anniversary, the speaker was Jeremy Corbyn, former UK labour leader and decades long supporter of many human rights causes.  The introduction begins at 32:45 in the video.  There is also video of the memorial service.

 

 

Al Jazeera reports on the 50th anniversary and how Derry has changed, but is still under occupation.

There are also reports from Deutsche Welle and France 24 English service.

 

 

In 1975, Phil Lynott of Thin Lizzy penned “Emerald”.  Though written as historical fable of invaders with shields and swords, it is clearly about British occupation of the Emerald Isle.

 

 

In 1978, UK punk band Stiff Little Fingers wrote “Wasted Life”.  It is in general about those who throw their lives away serving as tools of fascism and military occupation, but was absolutely written with the English occupation of Ireland in mind, only a few years in the past.

 

 

In 1981, The Police recorded “Invisible Sun”.  Sting said of the song, “Invisible Sun is a dark, brooding song about the lurking violence of those streets, patrolled by armored cars, haunted by fear and suspicion, and wounds that would take generations to heal.”

Those streets being occupied Belfast, and the armoured cars driven by english terrorist who would commit violence without warning or cause.

 

 

In 1985, punk/metal/proto-industrial band Rogue Male recorded “On The Line”.  Though I’ve never seen anything explicitly saying this was about Irish resistance to the British occupation, lead singer and songwriter Jim Lyttle is from Belfast.

 

 

Mary Black is one of many artists who has recorded “Song for Ireland”, her version from 1998. The first three verses speak of the beauty of the island, while the fourth laments the pain of “the troubles” and occupation. The odd thing about the song is the two songwriters were English who visited Ireland on a holiday.