A new cross-border campaign against Brexit was launched this week on the Derry-Donegal border.
The ‘Breaking Down Brexit Campaign’ was launched at the old customs house at the Bridgend border crossing.
The campaign is a broad based group who are coming together to campaign for an end to Brexit and to have the democratic wishes of the majority of people in the North of Ireland who voted to remain within the European Union recognised.
The group will be representative of all sectors of the community including the business and commercial sector, workers and trade unions, the student population, disabled community and the community and voluntary sector.
The launch co-incided with the announcement of a planned day of action on Saturday, October 8, to highlight the impacts of Brexit on the social and economic lives of the people living in the North West.
The day of action will take place at the Derry-Donegal border at
The Breaking Down Brexit group have linked up with the Donegal based Border Communities Against Brexit who will also be involved in the day of action.
There have been a number of groups set up both North and South to campaign around Brexit and there will be a number of co-ordinated activities taking place in the future.
Speaking at the launch Dermot O’Hara from the Destined group said: “People with learning disabilities will be impacted in a number of ways by Brexit, including possibly losing access to Peace IV funding and other strands of funding.
“This will put services under further strain and lead to a reduction of services and increased isolation for our community.”
He continued: “The Tory government has stated that when it leaves the European Union that it will repeal the Human Rights Act which under pins all of the Discrimination and Equality legislation. This would be a major backward step that will take away the rights of disabled people and make them second class citizens.”
Derry Trades Council Chairman Liam Gallagher stated: “We believe that we need to lobby to maintain equality and trade union rights currently protected by EU membership. The loss of EU funding will have a particular effect on education, the Agri food industry, disability groups, manufacturing and the voluntary sector.”
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