The hardline loyalist Shankill Road on the first day of the stoppage - lived.' But it was not simply a case of mass intimidation. Nor is it correct to say the strike did not have significant support especially in traditional hardline areas of Belfast. There the Loyalists wandered around in groups, stood on street corners, and made their feelings *We want the IRA defeated and out of this country, If they don't give us protection we'll do it ourseives... maybe there's some good Catholics who don't support the IRA, but they don't throw them out of their homes."
This type of sentiment was expressed often in the first four days of the strike. To imagine the whole thing was run by Paisleyand a tew fellow fanatics is not the case. Most of the Protestant-dominated factories in West Belfast closed in the first few days. In Larne, the entire port was closed, in Portadown, in the words of the News Letter, *trade, industry and commerce were at a virtual standstill.
In Banbridge the town was at a standstill. There, even Chamber of Commerce backed the action, saying 'the strike's and no troops in sight.
Allthis, and more, wasnot due to 'intimidation" something about those gave the strike the most support - the Protestant working class in the UDA.
Evenif they didn't support the tactic of the strike the wast majority, to use the words of 'The most obvious reactionaries may or may not have been chastened by their call for a general strike, but the most important thing remember that are many other reactionaries queueing up to take their place."
the News Letter, supported its reactionary aims. The reason for the demand for the bringing back of Stormont was, according to one striker, 'Because we are in a majorily, and that way we would rule the country and do what we want"
Considering the number of sectarian assassinations the UDA have been involved in over the last couple of years, considering the masy Graeme Cookson [Red Weekly] The Catholic Falls Road on the third day of the stoppage, and the imagination to see what that particular picket meant when he who said we could do what we want", may have changed the balance of forces within the Unionist camp, the essential aim of the Unionists ority rule' — remains the same. And the consequences of chat rule have similarly not changed Paisley isafter, when it comes to "security measures'. to As for the British troops, their there essential role has been confirmLed bythestrike — they remained in the background throughout, except in the city centre and the Catholic areas where they were on duty to fight "terrorism' They are there to defeat the uprising of the Catholic people and its call for real majority rule — for the rightof irish people as a whole to rule themscives.
The most obvious reactionaries may of may not have been countless chastened by their call for a general strike, but the most important thing to remember is that there are many reactionaries queucing up to take their place. So, while the Loyalist strike unhindered majUnionists back what of PET SILO [Devlin] conference, other THIS WEEK sees the lirat number of InitinIn Britain, designed to take positive steps to intervene on he side of the oppressed Northem minority A Student Conference I on Sunday, 15 May, at the Trans hold Middlesex Polytechnic starting al 11.30am Insarest LULA Onkwood]. Bernadetle McAliskey will speaker. The sponsors of the Student Movement Campaign on Ireland, see the conference as COMING planning activity to expose continued use British Army in Iraland. sludent readers of Red Weekly are urged to allend this important venture. For more details phone Von McClary, 01-8041958.
On the same day the Trade Prevention of Terrorism Act are holding a conference on the PTA al Hammersmith Formore detalls phone 01-286 For 28/29 May the British Peace Commitieshare organIsed a delegate conference on searchlight from a helicopter "British Involvement in ireland and consequences of British withdrawal. Six Labour MPs are sponsoring this conference, delsiis o which can Do oolanD Tram BPC Claverton Street, London SWIV 3AX Finally the Troops Out Conference will take place on initiatiro Is all Individuals and groups who support the demof Troops oul now. self-determination for Trish people whole. Details from Troops Oul Conference, c/o Rising Free, 182 Upper Street, London N1. night before the strike: police
ВЕД WEEKLY 12 Ма) 1871
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The TUC chat freely to UDA strikers blocking the streets near the hardline loyalist Sandy Row —on the third day of the strike -an