Crowe facilitates Leinster House discussion with American peace activist

Sinn Féin’s spokesperson on Foreign Affairs, Trade and Diaspora, Seán Crowe TD, facilitated a cross-party discussion in Leinster House with the renowned American peace activist, Ann Wright, on Thursday.

After the meeting Deputy Crowe said:
“Firstly I would like to thank Ann for coming to Leinster House to talk with members of the Dáil and Seanad about her peace activism and her thoughts on the current wars being fought around the world and contemporary imperialism.

“I would also like to thank the Peace And Neutrality Alliance (PANA) and the Irish Anti-War Movement for facilitating and arranging Ann’s visit to Ireland.

“Ann served in the American military for 29 years, retiring as a colonel, and she also served for 16 years in the Foreign Service of the US State Department. She courageously resigned her position in the US State Department in direct protest to the March 2003 invasion of Iraq. She is one of the highest government officials to resign in protest.

“Since her resignation she has become one of the most prominent peace activists in the US. She was also aboard Challenger 1, which was part of the 2010 Freedom Flotilla to Gaza.

“I, along with other members of the Oireachtas, had an open and frank discussion with Ann. It was a quite timely discussion to have as we have seen successive governments erode Ireland’s neutrality, and a growing entanglement of Ireland in NATO and EU military alliances. Sinn Féin firmly opposes all attempts to erode Irish neutrality.

“I want to wish Ann all the best on her trip around Ireland, in which she will also visit Belfast, Galway, and Shannon.”