Today in Labor History March 1, 1981: Provisional Irish Republican Army member Bobby Sands began his hunger strike at HM Prison Maze. He was in prison for his role in the Balmoral Furniture Company bombing in 1976. During the hunger strike, he was elected to parliament. 10 prisoners died from starvation during the strike, including Sands. 100,000 people attended his funeral.
His death provoked strong anti-British, pro-Irish republican reactions around the world. The Iranian government renamed Winston Churchill Boulevard, the location of the British Embassy in Tehran, to Bobby Sands Street. This forced the embassy to move its entrance door to Ferdowsi Street to avoid using Bobby Sands Street on its letterhead. 2/2
Cuireadh tús le stailc ocrais Phoblachtach na hÉireann 1981 nuair a dhiúltaigh Bobby Sands bia ar 1 Márta 1981.
The 1981 Irish Republican hunger strike started with Bobby Sands (Roibeárd Ó Seachnasaigh) refusing food on 1st March 1981. During Sands' strike, he was elected to the British Parliament as an Anti H-Block candidate. Sands died on 5th May 1981 in the Maze's prison hospital after 66 days on hunger strike, aged 27. 1/
Following Sands’ success the British Government introduced the Representation of the People Act 1981, which prevented prisoners serving jail terms of more than one year in either the UK or the Republic of Ireland from being nominated as candidates in UK elections. This law was quickly introduced so in order to prevent the other hunger strikers from being elected to the British parliament. 2/2
On 9th April 1981 Robert Gerard "Bobby" Sands (Roibeárd Gearóid Ó Seachnasaigh) was elected to Westminster in the Fermanagh/South Tyrone by-election, while on hunger strike in Long Kesh Prison, as MP for the constituency. 1/2
Ottanta giorni di sciopero della fame. Il caso Alfredo Cospito e «i buoni» https://www.wumingfoundation.com/giap/2023/01/alfredo-cospito-80-giorni/ #Alimentazioneforzata #Sorveglianzaspeciale #Scioperodellafame #AlfredoCospito #HolgerMeins #repressione #BobbySands #Notizie #NoTav
