The fight back against the Trump and the alt-right here in Dublin began on the evening of January 20. In America, Trump had just been sworn in less than an hour before. On Dame Street, chants against racism and sexism and Trump himself, the mascot of both, rang up from the crowd. Signs and banners were bearing messages regarding both Irish and American political issues: a banner calling to repeal the 8th, courtesy of People Before Profit, one of the organisations behind the march, another for the Ireland-Palestine solidarity campaign, and even a sign of apology from an American. According to Memet Uludag, from United Against Racism, another group that was a driving force behind the protest, the alt-right movement that is on the rise in America is one that we should be vigilantly fighting here in Ireland.
“The perspective in relation to Ireland is this: we have no far-right fascist movements in this country in the way that America does,” Uludag said. “We have no organised groups attacking migrants or women or refugees. But, we are also not immune to the rising far-right sentiments that start injecting these thoughts into people’s minds, and normalising them. Ireland has to take its place in international solidarity. At home, we should say, no to homophobia, no to racism, no to sexism, no attacks on women and migrants and all other groups. That is our duty here at home. And then, we have to be part of the international community. To show the people of America, show the people of Europe, they are not alone, and it is not just Trump that dictates global politics, it is also us, the people. We have an impact on what is going on across the world.”
Ailbhe Smith, of the Coalition to Repeal the 8th Amendment, spoke with Hot Press about the importance of solidarity between the women of Ireland and America. “The right to choose, very specifically, is one that is so desperately under threat in the states,” she said, “and it’s such a live issue for us here. But the fight ahead is very much about keeping our connections wide open, and of course, we do that all the time through the internet anyway, we’re constantly in contact with American women’s organisations, specifically pro-choice organisations. We’re looking at and learning from them, and I hope maybe they can learn something from what we’re doing here as well. In this day and age, we have to stand in solidarity not just with the women of Ireland, but the women of America and the world as well.”
The next day, October 21, the women of Ireland did just that, as thousands of supporters took to the streets in solidarity with American women. Though it quickly became something more, as women and supporters were marching all around the world. The march travelled from the Garden of Remembrance at noon and ended with a rally at the Spire at three-o-clock. There were other protests in Ireland in Galway, Cork, and Kerry.