Russ Feingold: “I rise today--St. Patrick's Day--to call attention to human rights abuses in Northern Ireland. I became particularly…”

“I rise today--St. Patrick's Day--to call attention to human rights abuses in Northern Ireland. I became particularly aware of ``the Troubles,'' as the conflict there is known, when I was a student at Oxford in the 1970's. The events in Northern Ireland greatly disturbed me then, as they do now, and I never fathomed how long these events would restrict the lives and freedoms of the people of Northern Ireland. Over 20 years and over 3,000 lives later, the violence continues. We must vigorously condemn the heinous crimes, the murdering and the maiming, the terror, and the torture inflicted upon innocent civilians by both Loyalist and Republican paramilitary organizations. I condemn the recent mortar attacks on Heathrow Airport in London and threats of further attacks there and on Gatwick Airport. These terrorist acts are despicable and cannot be rewarded in any way. Yet, as Britain seeks to control and punish such acts of terror, it cannot abuse the rights of innocents. So, today, I want to speak not about these patently offensive acts but against other insidious activities. Today, I want to speak about the human rights abuses and civil liberties violations committed by the British Government against Irish Catholics in Northern Ireland.”