Connolly Youth Movement - Belfast Branch

Join us in the Sunflower at 2pm on the 29th of September as we raise money for Palestine with Red film club’s screening of 'Ivan's Childhood'.

All proceeds go to humanitarian aid in Gaza.

Early this week, members of the CYM hosted an informational stall outside Queen’s University Belfast, engaging with fellow students on critical issues affecting the occupied six counties.

Topics such as the Genocide in Palestine, the housing and healthcare crisis, Militarism and military spending were discussed . We also explored the involvement of our own university with the British military through the “University Officers Training Corps” and their close relationship and cooperation with arms companies such as Thales and Rolls-royce.

Students were shocked to learn about the significant funding allocated to the British Army in the North, especially while there are crisis with healthcare, housing and cost of living.

Students were also disturbed by the complicity that their university has in the ongoing genocide in Palestine through its investment in arms companies and by providing a recruitment platform for British military.

The CYM will continue to engage with and support the students in their efforts to demilitarise their university and end its complicity in the genocide in Palestine and countless other crimes around the world.

Last weekend members of the Belfast branch enjoyed a visit to Monasterboice; a 5th century monastic site that developed into an important 10th century settlement.

Far from being a pilgrimage, members discussed the evolution of class-relationship through the lens of early Christian settlements and the impact they had on the development of political and economic life in pre-Norman Ireland.

Sites like Monasterboice were early economic centres, providing the basis for agricultural expansion and development of craft-industry, and acted as hubs for domestic trade.

We also discussed how such sites impacted the culture and superstructure of Irish society, such as through the Christianisation of previous mythology, and works such as The Book of Invasions which sought to place Irish history into a wider Biblical worldview.

Monasterboice like many other sites was subject to Viking raids, which provided an opportunity to discuss the impact of the Vikings on political and economic life in Ireland in the 10th century, and the class-conflicts and economic developments that played out as a result.

Such trips provide a great way to understand the history of Ireland from a class perspective, and everyone found it an engaging way to learn about Irish history.

As Marx said, "The history of all hitherto existing society is the history of class struggle"

Reference: Ireland Her Own, T. A. Jackson

📚🇮🇪 REPUBLICAN READING GROUP 🇮🇪📚

We’ll be reading “Revolutionary Unionism and War” by James Connolly in Yolo cafe on Monday the 26th at 6! All welcome, no prior reading required!

Join us in the Sunflower at 3pm on the 18th of August as we raise money for Palestine with Red film club’s screening of 'Burn!'.

All proceeds go to humanitarian aid in Northern Gaza.

Link to the Eventbrite in bio

📚🇮🇪 REPUBLICAN READING GROUP 🇮🇪📚

We’ll be reading “Can Warfare Be Civilized?” by James Connolly in Yolo cafe on Monday the 22nd at 6! All welcome, no prior reading required!

“There are no humane methods of warfare, there is no such thing as civilized warfare; all warfare is inhuman, all warfare is barbaric; the first blast of the bugles of war ever sounds for the time being the funeral knell of human progress.”

Reject War - Reject Westminster!

Over the last week CYM activists in Belfast & Derry distributed posters calling for people to spoil their ballot in the upcoming Westminster election on Thursday 4 July.

Amidst an atmosphere of increasing international tensions, with fresh calls for the further militarisation of Ireland north and south, and the ongoing genocidal campaign against the Palestinian people, we call on the youth of the north of Ireland to reject war and reject Westminster.

The Westminster parliament is designed to maintain the interests of British capitalists, landlords, and militarists. It has offered nothing to the Irish people except occupation and a denial of justice and self-determination. Whilst working-class communities in the north of Ireland are constantly told we have no money for hospitals, childcare, or community centres, the British state continues to fund a £1 billion-per-year military operation in the north of Ireland - Operation Helvetic - whilst dedicating over 1/5 of MI5's caseload to the north alone. No money for schools, but plenty for surveillance. Not content with this, early in 2024, a proposal to increase the British military presence was supported by former Foreign Ministers from both Labour and the Tories.

With regards to Palestine, the British ruling-class stands diametrically opposed to the interests of the overwhelming majority of Irish workers. Whilst it is the policy of Britain to support Zionism with intelligence, ammunition, and even dispatching the RAF, the Irish people stand firmly with Palestinians. The only beneficiaries of this genocidal policy are the war-profiteers and those who make excuses for them in Westminster.

Whilst this election will be portrayed as an exercise in democracy, it is worth remembering that Britain's continued occupation - supported by their local unionist allies and "republican" collaborators - ultimately denies any sense of democracy for the Irish people as a whole.

CONTINUED IN COMMENTS 👇👇👇

Join us on Sunday the 16th of June to commemorate Wolfe Tone with a hike up Cave Hill, where he took his pledge, in June 1795, to never desist in his efforts to assert Irelands independence.

We’ll be meeting at 11am in Hightown road carpark!

📚🇮🇪 REPUBLICAN READING GROUP 🇮🇪📚

We’ll be reading Fleshpots of Empire by Liam Mellows in Yolo cafe on Monday the 17th at 6! All welcome, no prior reading required

“If you ask the people of Ireland what they would accept, by an emphatic majority they would say ‘We want independence and an Irish Republic.’ There is absolutely no doubt about that. The elected representatives of Ireland now, by a clear definite majority, have declared in favour of independence – of secession.”

Reminder for tonight’s Red Film Club fundraiser for Palestine. 🇵🇸🇵🇸

We will be screening “Battleship Potemkin” by Sergei Eisenstein in the sunflower bar at 7pm. All proceeds going to humanitarian aid in northern Gaza!

See our bio to sign up!

Join the Red Film Club!

Once a month, we screen films ranging from left-wing revolutionary stories to cinema classics.

Films will be followed by a discussion giving you the chance to connect with like-minded individuals.

Don’t miss out! Join our WhatsApp group in our bio for updates on upcoming screenings, discussions, and more!

This month’s screening will be “Battleship Potemkin” at 7pm on Sunday 2nd of June, in the Sunflower Bar. All proceeds to humanitarian aid in Northern Gaza. See our bio to sign up and join the WhatsApp!

The CYM Belfast branch marched on Saturday to commemorate 76 years of the Nakba.

We understand that the Nakba did not end in 1948, that Palestinians have continuously been forcefully displaced or killed by Zionist forces and settlers whenever Israel decides to expand itself.

We know that there can be no peace or justice in Palestine while the occupation continues.

Our members also distributed leaflets for our upcoming screening of Battleship Potemkin, at which we will be fundraising for aid in the North of Gaza, which our comrades in the Palestinian Communist Youth Union are working hard to provide. Register to attend at the link in our bio

Red Film Club for Palestine!

Join us in the sunflower as we raise money for Palestine with the Red film club’s screening of “Battleship Potemkin”

Directed and co-written by Sergei Eisenstein, Battleship Potemkin presents a dramatisation of the mutiny that occurred in 1905 when the crew of the Russian battleship Potemkin rebelled against its officers.

Screening will take place on Sunday the 2nd of June at 7pm. Pay what you can, all proceeds to humanitarian aid in Northern Gaza.

Sign up with the link in our bio!

📚🇮🇪 REPUBLICAN READING GROUP 🇮🇪📚

We'll be reading Economic Conscription by James Connolly in Yolo cafe on the 20th at 6! All welcome, no prior reading required

'The control of the means of life by private individuals is the root of all tyranny, national, political, militaristic, and that therefore they who control the jobs control the world'

🚩✍️ CYM PUB QUIZ 🍺🚩

📆 7pm Wednesday 8 May
📍The Sunflower (upstairs)

Join us and test you knowledge of history, science, sports, movies and more! 🤓

Prizes for the winner and runner-up to be announced 🎉

£5 for individual entry
£15 for a table (up to 4 people)

Get your ticket at the link in our bio or on the door

📚⭐ SOCIALIST REPUBLICAN READING GROUP ⭐📚

Thank you to everyone who came to our discussion of James Connolly's Socialism and Nationalism last night. The CYM regularly hosts reading groups, all are welcome to join.

If you're interested in joining our next session send us a DM! 🇮🇪🚩

Join us in the sunflower for the Red Film clubs screening of Heiny Srour’s “The Hour of Liberation Has Arrived”.

The Hour of Liberation Has Arrived is a documentary offering direct insight into the reality of a forgotten revolution in Oman. The film explores how Marxist guerrillas were able to create a glimpse of an equal society whilst fighting against the British-backed Sultan.

Screening with take place on the 14th of May at 7Pm. It is free to attend, with a recommended donation of 5 pounds.

Click the link in our bio to sign up!

Join us in Dove House in Derry on the 13th of April, at 2pm, for a talk on the role of policing and paramilitaries in the creation of the northern state.

This talk will explore the personalities and paramilitaries that shaped the foundation of the Northern Irish state and the police forces which emerged to protect their interests.

Click the link in our bio to sign up!

“This weekend members of the Belfast branch hiked Cave Hill, where Wolfe Tone once made his declaration never to desist in his efforts to free Ireland.

The CYM is committed to promoting a healthy counter-culture and regularly organises hikes, if you want to get involved DM us or go to cym.ie/join”

The CYM joined today’s march to the US consulate demanding an end to US complicity in the Israeli genocide in Gaza, and calling on Irish politicians to boycott the White House.

Any visit to the White House or meeting with Butcher Biden by Irish politicians is an act of complicity in this genocide. The crowd’s reaction to a speaker from Sinn Féin made this abundantly clear and sent a message that those in Washington do not represent the will of the Irish working class.

Allegations made by supporters of Sinn Féin that reactions like today’s divide the movement are empty as long as Sinn Féin continues to ignore the explicit call from the BDS National Committee to boycott the White House, and the clear demands of the vast majority of Irish Palestine solidarity activists. By meeting Genocide Joe Sinn Féin have made it clear their priorities lie with their American investors, not the Palestinian children being murdered daily by the Zionist war machine backed by those same yankee interests.

For justice in Palestine, boycott Israel.

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Earlier this week the CYM Belfast Branch hosted the last lesson of its Cúpla Focal course, which was open to anyone to attend. We finished the course with an exam which saw five people awarded their Cúpla Focal badges, with many hoping to achieve their Fáinne Airgid.

The CYM strives for an Ireland where our national language is fully revived, and seeks to reverse the centuries of British repression of the language, and the century of willful neglect by the southern government. The CYM recognises that as long as language rights are denied and Gaeilge resources are underfunded, the language will continue to be a political issue.

Tír gan teanga, tír gan anam!

The CYM unequivocally supports the mass strike of workers from 15 different trade unions across the civil service, healthcare, education and transport in what is the biggest industrial action in the 6 counties in decades.

Trade union leadership is moving away from the redundant messaging of "Getting our politicians back to work" and, in recognising the frustration of their members, are finally aiming their ire and demands at the ones most responsible for the collapse of public services in the 6 counties: The British Government and their stooge, Chris Heaton Harris.

Heaton Harris is holding £3.3 billion of public funds over the heads of public workers while our public services continue to collapse, while the health service and education are in full crisis. The position of the CYM is the same as public sector workers, that our priority is not fixing the rotten institution of Stormont, it is working public services and fair pay and conditions for those running them. Remember that even when running, the Assembly repeatedly voted against the interests of working people.

However, winning purely economic concessions from the British government will only go so far in alleviating our woes. It is not merely the moribund system of devolution that is to blame, but the whole capitalist system and its consequences in Ireland and the wider world. Until the Irish working-class achieves political power for itself, and no longer has to beg for scraps from Westminster or Leinster House, we will continue to be faced with the issues of "Heat or eat" and an intentional housing crisis.

We see the power we have as workers today as the whole city of Belfast came to a standstill. From Department of Infrastructure workers refusing to grit the roads, to teachers walking out en-masse, and Translink drivers refusing to cross the picket line. More has been done today than all the failed negotiations in Hillsborough Castle. Only the people have the power to make history and we’ve seen the start of something today, as long as we have the confidence to keep going.

Fight for tomorrow, Fight for a Socialist Republic
Dlúthpháirtíocht!

🍔 FREE BURGERS FOR FREE PALESTINE 🇵🇸

On Saturday the CYM joined and other activists outside McDonald's in protest of the company's support for Israel

Free vegan burgers were distributed to encourage passerby's not to eat in McDonald's and support the organic boycott of McDonald's which began after McDonald's in Israel provided free food to the IDF

Information was also shared about the BDS targets put forward by the Palestinian led BDS National Committee

For justice in Palestine, boycott Israel

🇮🇪 CUMANN BRICFEASTA 🍳

We're taking a break from Poc Agus Polaitíocht for the winter months but our members remain committed to Gaelic Revival activities and have been meeting regularly to discuss politics and speak Irish over breakfast

If you would like to join us, message the page for more info. All welcome, regardless of your level of Irish!

🇵🇸 Join us at this protest to mark one month since the Al-Aqsa Flood.

The CYM joined thousands in Belfast today in march from Queen's University to the US Consulate.

The march called for the expulsion of the Israeli ambassador, an immediate ceasefire and an end to US complicity in Israeli genocide.

Despite heavy and increasing police presence and surveillance the people of Belfast continue to come out in force and remain unwavering in their solidarity with the Palestinian people 🇵🇸

In anticipation of a large police presence, our members distributed leaflets on the policing of Palestine solidarity which include information on stop & search legislation and what to do if you are stopped by a police officer.

The CYM Belfast branch has noticed a trend of heavy police presence at Palestine solidarity demonstrations.

We implore all young activists to know our rights when interacting with the PSNI, and ensure all interactions with the PSNI are filmed.

🚫

The CYM joined an action last night in the Kennedy Centre calling on O'Neills to stop stocking Puma products.

Puma sponsors the Israel Football Association which includes teams in illegal settlements. Activists highlighted the hypocrisy shown by O'Neill's in stocking both Palestine solidarity jerseys and Puma products.

We call on all young people to boycott Puma, and put pressure on your clubs and teams to do the same.

BDS Belfast

🇮🇪 SEASANN BÉAL FEIRSTE LEIS AN bPALAISTÍN 🇵🇸

The CYM took part in yesterday's march on the BBC which demanded that the BBC accurately report on the genocide being carried out in Gaza and stop spreading Israeli lies.

We all have a responsibility to challenge Zionist propaganda in the media which only serves to justify Israel's reprehensible ambitions to wipe out the Palestinian people.

Our activists also distributed leaflets with some key points on what individuals can do to support the Palestinian resistance against the occupation:

• Boycott Israeli goods: support the BDS campaign to put economic pressure on Israel to end its occupation. If you are a shopworker, get your union involved and get them to support BDS, and stop your shop from stocking Israeli goods.

• For all organisations, and particularly third-level educational institutions, put pressure on them to divest from companies that profit off the murder of Palestinians.

• Support fundraisers for aid to Palestine.

• Challenge Zionist propaganda in the media; talk to your friends and colleagues about the role of media in building consensus for this war and the hypocritical propaganda we are hearing on the radio and on our TVs.

• Support political prisoners, put pressure on their respective embassies and support prisoners by writing to them.

• Remain steadfast in your support for Palestine in the face of attempts to criminalise international solidarity.