{"id":6363,"date":"2019-08-20T14:55:41","date_gmt":"2019-08-20T14:55:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/aoh.com\/?p=6363"},"modified":"2019-08-20T16:18:59","modified_gmt":"2019-08-20T16:18:59","slug":"call-to-action-have-your-elected-representatives-commit-to-preserving-the-good-friday-agreement-against-the-risks-of-brexit","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/aoh.com\/2019\/08\/20\/call-to-action-have-your-elected-representatives-commit-to-preserving-the-good-friday-agreement-against-the-risks-of-brexit\/","title":{"rendered":"Call to Action: Have Your Elected Representatives Commit to Preserving the Good Friday Agreement Against the Risks of Brexit."},"content":{"rendered":"
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We can not go back to the days of a hard border.
(By IWM Collections. IWM Photo No.:CT 630, Fair use<\/a>, Link)<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Brothers:<\/p>\n

We are less than 90 days out from a climatic point in the history of the world which will remake the map of Europe and have dramatic consequences for our brothers and sister in Ireland: Brexit. The current Brexit deadline is October 31st<\/sup>, and newly elected Prime Minister Johnson has threatened that unless the European Union accedes to Britain\u2019s demands they will leave without a deal, \u201ca hard Brexit.\u201d The economic disruption of a \u201chard Brexit\u201d will touch every corner of the world, including the United States, and nowhere will the impact be more keenly felt than Ireland where Britain has its only land border with the E.U..<\/p>\n

For over twenty years, thanks to the United States brokered Good Friday Agreement, the Irish border has existed only on maps. Thirty-five thousand people seamlessly cross the border daily to work, school, or seek medical care. Military checkpoints and razor wire have given way to bridges of understanding which are helping the border fade into history like the centuries of bloody conflict that once defined it. It is for this reason that the people of Northern Ireland of all communities rejected Brexit by 56%.

Sadly, recent statements by senior U.S. officials of \u201cunwavering commitment<\/em>\u201d \u201chowever Brexit shakes out<\/em>\u201d shows that many American government officials are unaware of the consequences of Brexit to the Irish people and a proud U.S. Good Friday Agreement legacy<\/p><\/blockquote><\/div><\/p>\n

An even greater risk to the Irish peace process is that senior British officials are now stating that to implement Brexit it shall be necessary for Britain to resume exclusive and direct rule in Northern Ireland. A repartitioning of Ireland, the ignoring of a clear mandate to reject Brexit, a return to direct rule from Westminster, and a devastated economy will create a breeding ground for violence.<\/p>\n

Sadly, recent statements by senior U.S. officials of \u201cunwavering commitment<\/em>\u201d \u201chowever Brexit shakes out<\/em>\u201d shows that many American government officials are unaware of the consequences of Brexit to the Irish people and a proud U.S. Good Friday Agreement legacy.

\u2026 we can not let the Irish people become acceptable collateral damage to Brexit<\/p><\/blockquote><\/div><\/p>\n

As both Hibernians and Americans, we cannot let this happen. As Americans we believe people and governments should honoring their commitments, as Hibernians we can not let the Irish people become acceptable collateral damage to Brexit. The Irish people have as equal a birthright to self-determination, peace, and security as do the British; America has a historical \u201cspecial relationship\u201d of friendship with Ireland far older than that with Britain.  <\/p>\n

It is for this reason Brothers, we ask your help<\/p>\n