Among the crowd there were some old friends and colleagues, including Peter Nolan and Pat Bolger and former IMPACT general secretary Peter McLoone. Billy Hannigan also drew my attention to the presence of Ciara and John Lee (pictured right), whose mother Fiona is a former PSEU president (and quoted in this Irish TImes coverage). Among the NUJ members present was veteran reporter Charlie Bird.
I took the photo above near Berlin's Brandenburg Gate this day last week. As the sun set on a spectacular spring evening, and Berliners eased into their weekend around the smattering of beverage kiosks on the Unter Den Linden, the street hosted a series of vigils and small, personal demonstrations by Ukrainian citizens. Beyond the gate were two separate anti-war rallies.
While there was a strong police presence the atmosphere was peaceful, even contemplative. Like last night's rally at the Russian embassy in Dublin, people gathered to show solidarity and express their shock, revulsion and opposition to Russia's predatory war.
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