28th September 2026
Reflections on Garvaghy Road: The People Hold the Power, Not the Courts!
The true character of the illegitimate courts and rebranded RUC have been made clear as day, as once again the residents of Garvaghy Road have been threatened with violence by the RUC for resisting the passage of a sectarian hate-march through their homes. Despite these threats, the residents of Garvaghy Road and the Republicans who have joined them have sent a clear message to the occupier: the people hold the power, not the courts. We must not be deceived by unionists from Alliance to the TUV, who make endless appeals to the "Rule of Law" as a neutral force. No court established on the basis of partition, British occupation, and the domination of the working class can ever be neutral. Nothing can make this clearer than their abetting of the Orangemen. While peaceful anti-imperialist and Republican protestors are routinely harassed by the RUC, loyalist hate-groups were permitted to attempt to march into a community they terrorised not thirty years ago with full protection.
At the same time, we saw how ineffectual Sinn Féin's policy of collaboration has been, as the First-Minister herself could do nothing but send pleas to the Westminster-Appointed Secretary of State and tail the organisation of the Garvaghy Road's residents who have successfully blocked the passage of the Orange-Order through their community. Sinn Féin representatives tried to pull the people towards collaboration as they attempted to negotiate with the RUC officers who residents have rightly not engaged with. The Irish working class can never attain power, dignity and justice through the institutions set up to oppress it. Only through independent organisation, as seen on Garvaghy Road yesterday, can we fight back against sectarian and imperialist aggression. Only through independent organisation can we end British occupation and Capitalist exploitation.
As members of Conradh na Saoirse Náisiúnta arrived at the scenes of the Garvaghy road in the early hours on Sunday, it was especially apparent the gravity of the situation. The sombre and worried murmurs were all that could be heard. As we made our way to the community centre, filled with crashmats and people handing out water and tarps, one resident made the comment, “We thought we were done with this 28 years ago”, which was a recurring sentiment throughout the day. At around 8am, a volley of fireworks had been set off in a tricolour, which dramatically altered the atmosphere from one of worry into one of confident optimism. Through heavy downpours and sleep deprivation, people remained ready and on the road.
Throughout the day we stood with the crowds; we linked arms with strangers when ready to face off with the RUC. The community passed around food and water, expecting no payment but were simply happy to help. The solidarity and community organising we witnessed on the Garvaghy road was intelligent, courageous, and outstanding. As crowds drowned out the announcements from the crown forces with “SSRUC” on a road that had been cleared from RUC presence for over 2 days, a revolutionary republican tone was in the air that can be achieved again with the right organising.
Beir bua.