Strike 4 Repeal

Strike 4 Repeal was an abortion rights protest in Ireland on International Women's Day 2017 (Wednesday 8 March 2017). It called for a repeal of the Eight Amendment of the Constitution of Ireland, which bans abortion in nearly all cases, by recognising "the right to life of the unborn".[1][2][3][4][5] [6]

The protest was organised by Strike 4 Repeal, an ad-hoc, non-affiliated group of activists, academics, artists and trade unionists organising for abortion rights in Ireland. The main march was in Dublin, with 10,000 people on O'Connell Bridge,[1][7] and later many outside other government buildings. Despite the name "strike" some people took paid holidays that day. There were also protests in Galway, Limerick, Cork & other cities & towns around Ireland.[8][9] A protest was also held outside the Irish Embassy in London.[10]

It was inspired by a similar Black Protest in Poland several months earlier, which itself was inspired by the 1975 Icelandic women's strike.[1][11][12]

The march, and repeal movement, was criticised by some anti-abortion writers.[13]

Some participants thought the coverage of the event on RTÉ, Ireland's national broadcaster, was insufficient, and organised a follow-up picket of RTÉ studios. [14][15][16]

In 2016, the Irish government convened a Citizens' Assembly to make non-binding recommendations on this constitutional ban on abortion, and it was still deliberating on the day of the protest. As of March 2017 the Assembly hasn't finished its work. The protest also took place as details about the Bon Secours Mother and Baby Home in Tuam were being revealed, with some posters referencing those events.[5]

See also

References
  1. Edwards, Elaine; Flaherty, Rachel (8 March 2017). "Thousands march against Eighth Amendment in Dublin". The Irish Times.
  2. Forster, Katie (8 March 2017). "Irish women go on strike over the abortion ban". The Independent.
  3. Fox, Kara (9 March 2017). "#Strike4Repeal: Ireland protests abortion ban on International Women's Day". CNN.
  4. "Pro choice activists call a local strike for repeal". The Sligo Champion. 4 March 2017.
  5. "Strike4Repeal protests: in quotes and pictures". The Irish Times. 8 March 2017.
  6. "AJ+ - In Ireland, it's illegal for women to get an..." Al Jazerra+. 9 March 2017.
  7. Hickey, Katie (8 March 2017). "Thousands of Strike 4 Repeal protests takeover O'Connell Bridge (VIDEO)". Irish Central.
  8. Crean, Dermot (10 March 2017). "Kerry For Choice Holds 'Strike 4 Repeal' In The Square". Tralee Today.
  9. Ryan, Niamh Aine (8 March 2017). "Strike 4 Repeal actions take place later today". Cork Independent.
  10. McGowran, Claire. "'We're striking for Repeal in London in solidarity with our sisters in Ireland'". The Irish Times. London.
  11. Gunter, Joel (8 March 2017). "Abortion in Ireland: The fight for choice". BBC News.
  12. "Strike 4 Repeal". Abortion Rights Campaign. 20 January 2017.
  13. Nolan, Larissa (8 March 2017). "Why the Repeal the Eighth march will backfire". The Irish Times.
  14. Guyett-Nicholson, Roisin (13 March 2017). "UCD Students Lead RTÉ Repeal Protest". University Observer.
  15. Magliocco, Sarah (10 March 2017). "Repeal protesters set to picket RTÉ to demand recognition for strike".
  16. Guyett-Nicholson, Roisin (13 March 2016). "UCD students organise RTÉ 'Repeal protest'". The Irish Times.
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