Police in Dublin Shown Kicking the Irish Flag During Protest
by Susan Katz Keating
Critics have noted that Irish people have “fought and died for that flag,” including as part of the mission to defeat the Taliban in Afghanistan.
Nationalists in Ireland have circulated video of Irish police hurling the nation’s flag to the ground, and kicking it during a protest.
The incident unfolded July 19 in the Coolock district of Dublin, where people staged a march as part of ongoing protests over unprecedented levels of foreign migration into the small island.
Tensions flared when demonstrators accused the Gardaí of disrespecting the Irish flag, claiming it was thrown to the ground and kicked by officers. A number of scuffles broke out, and members of the Garda public order unit advanced on the crowd, dispersing them with shields and pepper spray.
The incident has ignited fury both among protesters on the scene and across social media platforms.
Critics are slamming the police’s actions as heavy-handed, accusing them of exacerbating an already volatile situation. Calls for accountability and demands for a reevaluation of policing methods are now echoing through the community.
Critics have noted that Irish people have “fought and died for that flag,” including as part of the mission to defeat the Taliban in Afghanistan.
The Irish Times newspaper reported on the protest, but did not mention the flag-kicking.
Soldier of Fortune re-posted one video on social media, along with the comment: “That’s gonna leave a mark.”
Susan Katz Keating is the publisher and editor in chief at Soldier of Fortune.