Samba music, sunshine and a celebration of difference were the order of the day as up to 1,000 trade unionists made anti-racism the theme of this year's May Day in Dublin yesterday.
A May Day march has been organised by the Dublin Council of Trade Unions in the capital every year since the mid-1970s.
Mr Sam Nolan, secretary of the DCTU, said anti-racism had been chosen as this year's theme as it was "the burning topic facing workers at the moment".
Among those represented by banners were the National Bus and Rail Union, the Socialist Workers' Party, the National Union of Journalists, the Workers' Party, Labour Youth, the Cuba Support Group, the Socialist Party, the Communist Party of Ireland, the Graphical Paper and Media Union, Citizens Against Racism and Ogra Sinn Fein. There was no banner from the State's biggest union, SIPTU.
There was a minor scuffle when Ms Aine Ni Chonaill, founder of the Immigration Control Platform, arrived carrying a placard, with "Quisling Trade Unions Support Racism" on it. She said she was there "as a trade unionist". i Chonaill She is a member of the ASTI. Shortly after 1 p.m. the infectious tempo of the Happy City Samba Band led the procession from Parnell Square, up O'Connell Street and finally to a rally outside Liberty Hall. Traffic was diverted and people stood the length of O'Connell Street to view the apparently impromptu parade.
Among them was Ms Bridged Murray from Galway, who had not known about the march. Nor did she know, from the organisations' banners, that it was against racism.
"I think it's a very good idea. I especially think the banners saying `Jail Corrupt Politicians' are good. The Government should give people looking for asylum the right to work," she added.
A message of support from Nelson Mandela was read at the Liberty Hall rally by Mr Gabriel Okenla of the Pan-African Organisation.
"In South Africa today we strive for the democratic order. We are united in our diversity," said Mr Mandela's message. "Much of this was made possible by the strong support of the Irish Anti-Apartheid Movement, especially the workers of Dunnes Stores. I cannot urge you strongly enough, as a freeman of your city, to work for a multi-cultural society."
The president of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, Ms Inez McCormack, said that two weeks ago she had spoken at a meeting in Liberty Hall, organised by the Irish Council for Civil Liberties, against the policy of direct provision for asylum-seekers.
She described how an African man who was being accommodated in a B & B in Donegal, said he could not buy the food he was used to and had to eat the food in the B & B. It was perfectly good food but he was not used to it and vomited every day.
It was important that leaders changed their rhetoric to action, she said, welcoming an announcement by Mr Tony Whelan of the Dublin Council of Trade Unions that the ICTU was establishing offices in Dublin and Belfast dedicated to combating racism.
The rally was also addressed by Ms Osiris Orie of the Workers' Central Union of Cuba, Mr Sam Nolan of the DCTU and Mr Brendan Carr of the DCTU.
