Community Activism and our movement

Community Activism is the foundation we need to lay to build the road to the republic. As young republicans it is important that from the early stages of our political development, we realise how important community activism and implementing social change in our local areas is in the fight for the future of our nation. As important as national issues are our activism must start locally.

Being a community activist means working with others in a community, whether it be a local area group such as a tidy towns committee or a social group like a football club or community centre, to grow and develop that community and achieve common aims.  Being a republican means being a community activist. It is a fundamental part of our movement and pivotal in the progression of the struggle.

Community Activism is often lost or buried in politics and people mistake the role of the political party as being a driving force for change only at a national level and not at a local level. It is all too often that politicians mistake themselves for civil servants as opposed to community activists. They are all too happy to sit in an office and reply to emails and peer into their communities every once in a while, for a photo op or to hold a public meeting. This is not community activism.

As young republicans we must educate ourselves on how we can be active in our communities and its importance. Electoral politics only makes up a small portion of the work that we do. Our goal is to republicanise our vote in local communities. West Belfast is a prime example of where community activism has instilled a strong republican vote, more specifically the Black Mountain Ward where Sinn Féin returned 6 councillors in the area with 7 seats up for grabs with a turnout of just over 55% in the 2019 Local Elections. This is an amazing example of how community activism can mean electoral success, obviously with an added bonus of incredible vote management. The activity of our comrades on the ground in the Black Mountain Ward shone through on the day of the count. It is a testament to the work done in the local community. Our aim should be to gain similar successes across the 32 counties of Ireland come the next local elections. How do we do that? We republicanise our vote through grassroots activism.

I recently read the book ‘Revolutionary Suicide’ by Huey P. Newton a founding member of The Black Panther Party and in it he highlighted the importance of community activism as part of any revolutionary movement. The Party established several different projects within their local communities such as breakfast clubs for children, clothing distribution, liberation schools and housing support. The community projects were described as ‘survival programmes’, as these programmes were designed to help the people survive the system until the system was broken. For anyone who has not I would strongly recommend reading this book. The Black Panthers ideas on using community programmes to raise consciousness within their communities is an idea all political movements should take note of today. Under capitalism working class communities cannot thrive, only survive within the confines of the system, until that system is broken we must be advocates of change in our communities but also active players in ensuring our communities excel within the remit of the current system.

The latest General Election was a major success for Sinn Féin and an incredible platform to build on but the vote we got in General Election 2020 is nothing more than a platform. Now is not the time to be complacent, now is the time to gain the trust and faith of the people. Many of those who voted for Sinn Féin in the General Election have done so for the first time, it is now our responsibility to galvanise that vote and ensure they are not disappointed with their vote. Our representatives are not simply a face on a poster, they are local people who work hard for their local communities.

To republicanise that vote we need to return to community activism and the so-called grassroots work. I encourage all Ógra members to get involved with their local communities and community groups. Actions such as organising a litter pick in the local area, attending meetings of local community groups such as a local trade union branch, community centre or youth group, attend protests that show support for local community groups. These are all examples of ways we can involve ourselves in community activism. We in Ógra Shinn Féin should work towards having a positive impact in our local communities and educating new members on the importance of local activism.

We want to implement meaningful change in society and create a better Ireland and a 32-county socialist republic, but we cannot forget that this change starts locally. If we are working to create a better Ireland but we are not doing anything to support our local communities, we are missing a trick. We are failing if we are not fighting every day to make our local communities a better place. It is the bread and butter of republican activism.

"If you can't make a direct, positive impact on the communities you serve as a political activist, you're working in vain." – Mary Lou McDonald.

le Aaron Ó Ruairc