Rev Jesse Jackson Visits Northern Ireland

American civil rights activist Reverend Jesse Jackson has praised the progress made by the communities of Northern Ireland when he attended a number of civic engagements in Londonderry and Belfast during a two-day visit to Northern Ireland.

He presented a civil rights award in Londonderry and also met victims of the Troubles from both communities in Belfast.

Rev Jackson commented: "We have learned a bad lesson well. We have learned to survive apart. We must learn to live together and not co-annihilate each other."

He said there had been an improvement in the situation in Northern Ireland after the departure of troops from the streets.

"We see Christians, Catholics and Protestants relating more freely. They look back on the occupation of the past as an ancient thing and wrong."

Rev Jackson’s trip included a visit to the Pat Finucane Centre, Belfast's oldest boxing club St George's and a meeting with survivors group, Relatives for Justice.

The Presbyterian Minister, Rev David Latimer, praised Rev Jackson's visit and commented: "He understands. He has been through the pain and he described it in lovely biblical language. The crucifixion has been grim for the people of America and grim for the people of Northern Ireland but this is not a hopeless situation because there is a hope of resurrection. There's an entire generation for whom this is completely history.

"They've learnt about Martin Luther King, and they're standing up in the Guildhall receiving a prize for someone who was with Martin Luther King. I think that's incredibly important."

Rev Jackson also called on President Barack Obama to visit Derry and Belfast when he comes to Ireland.

"The soil of Ireland is in Dublin but the soul of Ireland is in Belfast and in Derry. It's where the struggles took place. It's where blood was spilled."

He said that the events on the streets of Derry on 30 January 1972 were foreshadowed a few years earlier in America.

"We in America identify very much with the struggles in Ireland and in 1965 when we saw the march for the right to vote beaten back by fire hoses and dogs and horses and the state troopers it was called Bloody Sunday. And after Bloody Sunday came ultimately our resurrection from the crucifixion. The blood of the innocent is powerful, so there is a new Ireland today. There is a new relationship with Britain because of this place."

Rev Jesse Jackson was present on the Memphis balcony with the Martin Luther King when Dr. King was assassinated in 1968.

(JG/GK)