Bobby Sands

Robert George Sands, commonly known as Bobby Sands (March 9, 1954–May 5, 1981) was a convicted militant Irish republican who died on hunger strike in Long Kesh prison, Northern Ireland.

Commemorations in other countries

In Hartford, Connecticut a monument was dedicated to Bobby Sands and the other hunger strikers in 1997. The monument stands in a traffic circle known as "Bobby Sands Circle", at the bottom of Maple Avenue near Goodwin Park (link).

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The Longshoremen's Union in New York announced a twenty-four-hour boycott of British ships.

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The New Jersey State legislature voted 34-29 for a resolution honouring his 'courage and commitment.'

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Over 1,000 people gathered in New York's St. Patrick's Cathedral to hear Cardinal Cook offer a Mass of reconciliation for Northern Ireland. Irish bars in the city were closed for two hours in mourning.

Related Topics:
New York - St. Patrick's Cathedral

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In 2001 a memorial to Sands and the other hunger strikers was unveiled in Havana, Cuba (link).

Related Topics:
2001 - Havana - Cuba

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In Milan, 5,000 students burned the Union Jack and shouted 'Freedom for Ulster during a march.

Related Topics:
Milan - Union Jack - Ulster

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In Ghent students invaded the British Consulate.

Related Topics:
Ghent - British

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In Paris, thousands marched behind huge portraits of Sands, to chants of 'The IRA will conquer.'

Related Topics:
Paris - IRA

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The town of Le Mans has named a street after Sands.

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As has the St Denis département of Paris

Related Topics:
St Denis - Département - Paris

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The Hong Kong Standard said it was 'sad that successive British governments have failed to end the last of Europe's religious wars.'

Related Topics:
Hong Kong - Europe

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The Hindustan Times said Margaret Thatcher had allowed a fellow Member of Parliament to die of starvation, an incident which had never before occurred 'in a civilized country.'

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In Oslo, demonstrators threw a balloon filled with tomato sauce at Elizabeth, the Queen of the United Kingdom.

Related Topics:
Oslo - Queen of the United Kingdom

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In India, Opposition members of the Upper House stood for a minute's silence in tribute.

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In the Soviet Union, Pravda described it as 'another tragic page in the grim chronicle of oppression, discrimination, terror and violence' in Ireland.

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At Old Firm football matches in Glasgow, Scotland, Rangers F.C. fans are known to chant Will you have a chicken supper, Bobby Sands?, to annoy Celtic F.C. fans who sympathise with the republican cause.

Related Topics:
Old Firm - Glasgow - Scotland - Rangers F.C. - Celtic F.C.

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In Tehran, Iran during the early days of the Islamic revolution in 1979 student revolutionaries sympathizing with Sands replaced the street name on which the British embassy was located on from Winston Churchill street to Bobby Sands street. This name still exists today although efforts are being made by the British government to have it changed.

Related Topics:
Tehran - Iran - Islamic revolution - Winston Churchill

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