Border Communities Against Brexit hold meetings

Nigel Farage's flag waving departure from the European Parliament may have been a symbolic moment in the Brexit history, but this evening people occupying the polar view will assemble at six points along the Republic of Ireland/Northern Ireland border to make a symbolic gesture of their own.

 

“Brexit day is here,” JJ O Hara is in Blacklion preparing for the Border Communities Against Brexit demonstration set to take place there this evening. The demonstration is to highlight the belief that Brexit does not have the support of the people in the North of Ireland.

 

JJ feels that the campaign has been essential: “Where we are, in that we have no hard border, is important. That was our main focus of the campaign and we have achieved that.

 

“We see Brexit as only 30% over. What happens over the next 12 months with the trade deal will have huge implications. That is a 140,000 page document covering all sectors of industry, citizens rights and the movement of goods,” he says.

 

The group want the British Government to meet obligations under the Good Friday Agreement, including the continued incorporation into law of the European Convention on Human Rights.

 

The interests of Ireland and the rights of citizens’ in the North must be front and centre of negotiations on the future relationship between the EU and Britain. The lobbying, maintaining of profile and the political and social activity of Border Communities Against Brexit have kept the issue to the forefront of minds.

 

The work of BCAB has included public meetings in border communities, widespread media engagement in Ireland, in Brussels, and engagement with political
representatives at local, national, EU level and America.

 

The campaigner feels the trade deal timeline is impractical: “There is a 'but' in it,” JJ says, “The UK is integrated in the EU, but 10 months is not a realistic time frame for concluding a deal.”

 

He says it is vital to maintaining a voice in opposition to changes to the border:

“We have developed a lot in the last 30 years and we don't ever want to see it go back the way it was.”

 

JJ is asking a s many members of the public as possible to come out tonight (Friday) at 9:30pm to protest against the North being taken out of the EU. The protests are taking place at Carrickarnon, Aughnacloy, Aghalane, Blacklion, Lifford and Bridgend.