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ORGANISERS OF A protest by council workers have said that librarians are living in a state of “fear and dread” as right wing protestors target libraries in anti-LGBTQI+ demonstrations.
Hundreds of protestors have marched through Cork in a demonstration calling for greater protections for workers in libraries who organisers said were facing ever more aggressive attacks by a disparate group of demonstrators opposed to trans and LGBTQI+ literature.
The event this afternoon began outside the local library on Grand Parade – the Forsa trade union organised event then marched down South Mall and to City Hall where speakers spoke to the large crowd.
Protestors carried Forsa banners, rainbow flags and placards denouncing the far-right and with slogans such as “no to bullies” and “Cork City Council – Protect your workers”.
At the beginning of the march a small group of approximately 15 counter demonstrators, including some well known far-right figures, gathered.
A large group of gardaí escorted the marchers through the streets as speakers with megaphones led the crowd in chants of “Hate Speech isn’t Free Speech” and “stand up, fight back”.
Forsa organiser and the union’s head of Local Government Richie Carrothers told The Journal that librarians were now at breaking point due to the far-right protests.
“We would prefer to not be here protesting but we have seen, since January, a series of rolling protests by a small group of people entering Cork city library causing fear and intimidation in the workplace.
“They are calling for a large number of books to be taken out of the library and they are shouting insults to the workers and live streaming these protests in Cork City Library.
“We have called on management to act but they haven’t – we have seen this happen as recent as last week as the far-right tried to break up a meeting,” he said.
Carrothers said the union was calling for an urgent risk assessment to determine the exact risks to workers and also called for greater garda protections at libraries.
“This is about workers rights and health and safety in the workplace but it is also about showing solidarity and support for the LGBTQ+ community because what we’ve seen is a rise in attacks on the community – there is a correlation between hate speech and attacks on the LGBTQ+ community.
“The Council need to act and provide a library that is secure,” he said.
Carrothers added that librarians were now at a point where they would be forced to walk off the job to protect themselves.
“What the staff are telling us is that they have a real sense of dread going into work – they don’t know what they are facing into on a day to day basis.
“There is no schedule to these instances – so when you are unsure what you are going to face and you have fear and dread and you are intimidated at your workplace.
“That is not acceptable,” he added.
Liz Fay, is a former librarian and is also Forsa’s local organiser for local Government and she said her colleagues work lives now feel threatened at work.
“We are here to show solidarity for our members in Cork City Library in Grand Parade – they have faced a series of incidents in the library by protestors that have taken offence to some of the books.
“They have shown to be aggressive to workers, our library workers feel as though there vulnerable and very much out on their own.
“We tried to engage with management but there was no response,” she said.
Fay said that there is an urgent need for training and risk assessments to “protect staff and in turn protect the public”.
She added that she was calling for greater interaction with gardaí and that new bylaws would be introduced to ban troublemakers from libraries.
Organisers said that librarians had not made formal complaints to gardaí about the attacks.
A number of local politicians including Sinn Féin TD Thomas Gould, Fine Gael senator Jerry Buttimer and city councillors attended the protest.
The far-right protestors remained outside the public library which was closed for the day – they remonstrated with locals over the whereabouts of a misplaced phone.
Gardaí maintained a discreet presence at the Grand Parade but later moved off when the far-right left the area.
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Registered 20 days ago. I’m in my 40s. No appointment yet.
@AA: same here and I’m in the high risk group.
@AA: I’m 42, registered 2/6/21 and am getting the Pfizer vaccine tomorrow at Limerick racecourse. Its was weird, the appointment text was received by text 15/6/21 but didnt show up in my notifications and I only noticed it on the 17/6/21.
@AA: typically takes up to 3 weeks, best would be to call HSE help line on 1850 24 1850
@AA: I’m 40, registered last week and received a text today for an appointment next Thursday. I am in Dublin, so location may have an impact on capacity, I guess.
@AA: same happened to my father in law. He went to his nearest vaccination centre after 4 weeks and they gave him his shot at the end of the day from the leftovers due to no-shows etc. Seems system is broken in places.
@AA: log into the portal and see if you have an appointment and just didn’t get the text, happened a few of my friends
@AA: will probably better if you contact HSE on this rather than highlight it here?? The Journal ain’t going to do anything about it for you.
@Claudia O’Riordan: if you’re in a high risk category you should have contacted your GP or hospital consultant long before now.
@cmfoley: I did, my GP messed up, was giving me dates since April and after requested me to register by my age
@AA: took about 3.5 weeks before I received my appointment.
@AA: I’m in my mid 40′s, registered on the 4th June, vaccinated on the 8th in Cork, I know friends in Kildare & Dublin who are same age that are only getting 1st dose in a few days, so really depends on where you’re located
@AA: sorry to hear- highly recommend you contact your GP – I’m lucky that mine is on the ball I’m 41 and got first before my age group opened and second one will be the 1st July.
@AA: Just back from getting my first in Limerick racecourse. In and about in 35 minutes, excellent system.
A lot of GP clinics aren’t set up to give certain vaccines because of the refrigeration needs. Plus many already have a heavy workload. It’s honestly quicker to register.
@AA: I’m 36. Haven’t registered yet. Getting first jab in GP Tuesday morning
@Mark H: how did that work, did he just rock up and ask near end of the day?
Iam in my 50s and feeling excited for these youngfellas. Onwards and upwards.
@Paul Gorry: In your 50? Always thought you were a young fella! :D
If over 80% of the population get both vaccines by say September, what is the likelihood of a winter lockdown happening again, as we have seen already reports of over crowding in hospitals and there’s a low number of people in there with covid. I have no hesitancy taking this vaccine, but people will ask, what the point is if we end up back in some kind of lockdown again before the year is over…
@Michael Healy: Back in lockdown? We’re still in lockdown!
@Michael Healy: You mean for the ‘back to normal’ seasonal trolley crisis. I doubt they would use a lockdown because the horse has bolted. By the time the hospitals are packed, you’ve hit the peak It will be difficult in the years both influenza A & B and Covid all happen to have strong variants. We could follow the east Asian style of using a mask on public transport if you feel unwell, but I can’t see that happening here.
Right all the elderly and high risk people are vaccinated, good, so can someone please tell me the risk, % risk of someone dying in this age bracket of covid please. Because if its high i might just get it.
@Tac: not quite true, full efficacy is only reached after both doses have been received. People of any age can suffer from long covid, it’s not just mortality
@Tac: you should read the other article on here about the Delta variant in the UK. Seems a good proportion of the cases are in the younger age groups, it also discusses hospitalizations and fatalities.
@D. Memery: Thanks for….
@Tac: no we are not !!!
@Tac: I don’t think they are. Plenty of people with underlying conditions are still eagerly awaiting their second jab appointment text. Whatever about dying, it’s a miserable thing to catch & there’s long Covid to deal with plus all those UK visitors dying to visit Ireland asap, who could easily be carrying the D variant and immune to it themselves. I’d get it if I were you, if you’re not in, you can’t win :-D
Is anyone not getting the vaccine?
The 60-69 group only got first jab 4 weeks ago. A HSE disgrace
@trebloc01: should they have skipped ahead if the 70 – 79 year olds?
Its not a HSE disgrace, its about supply.
If they don’t receive enough doses they can’t distribute them. Why can’t people see the simple things. Its not like the HSE are sitting on masses of the vacine and leaving it in storage. They are getting it out as quick as they can.
@Pat ALTHEA: this group get the AstraZeneca and there was no shortage of supplies…..
@trebloc01: moan, moan, moan, moan……etc
@Barbara Stewart: there was shortages of astra, literally all over the news a few weeks back, in fact it was so bad that the EU were going to bring them to court over it.
@Barbara Stewart: but whats your point? Who cares which one they get so long as you get one if you want one. There was shortages for a good few weeks. What news have you been reading
@Sal Paradise: respect, please!
Would it not make sense to finish the previous cohert first before moving on?
17 days waiting with no appointment yet (likely Citywest)
I’ll be 41 shortly
Pregnant women should talk to their obstetrician is the advice. I’m sure the HSE knows that 86% of pregnant women are public patients and never speak to an obstetrician during their pregnancy, they see only midwives.
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