Demonstrations are being organised ahead of former US president Barack Obama’s planned visit to Dublin this September, reports Breaking News.
Barack and Michelle Obama have been invited to formally accept their Freedom of Dublin award during the upcoming trip.
The couple was awarded the Freedom of Dublin in 2017, but they have not officially accepted the honour until now, reports Breaking News.
The award is Dublin’s highest distinction and is presented to individuals whose leadership is considered to have made “a profound contribution to the world”.
Jim Roche, secretary and PRO of the Irish Anti-War Movement, said the group intends to protest the visit just as they did during Obama’s 2011 trip, reports Breaking News.
He argues that Obama’s impact on the world was not one of peace.
“How the industrial military complex works in America, how the presidents have seemingly little power even if they wanted to change it and make real peace in the world, so he wasn’t a peace president in that sense,” he said, reports Breaking News.
“We’re seeing the impact of the development of drone warfare horrifically now in Gaza and of course there’s great collaboration between the US military and Israeli military.”
In contrast, Lord Mayor Ray McAdam believes the Obamas are fully worthy of the award, reports Breaking News.
“During his term in office, he led with a sense of hope and, in terms of Mrs Obama, through her voice she was an inspiration to many young girls and women across the world,” he said, reports Breaking News.
One quirky perk of the Freedom of Dublin is that recipients are allowed to bring goods into the city through its gates without paying any customs duties — a benefit the Obamas will be entitled to during their visit, reports Breaking News.
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