The revelation this weekend that a government grant towards a local anti-racism pack has been withdrawn because it fails to give the thumbs-up to the PSNI is proof positive that the political vetters haven't gone away you know.
Since the peace process began 11 years ago, there have been valiant efforts made by community activists and political representatives to ensure that nationalists' rights and views were placed on a par with all others.
The fact that, over a decade on, the Conway Mill remains without funding, one flag flies over City Hall and Stormont, and rubber bullets remain in the PSNI armoury, show that much remains to be done. Key to achieving real change is the necessity to take on those in power who tell nationalists, 'it's our way or the highway'.
That's exactly what happened this week when the Office of the First Minister withdrew £10,000 from the Falls Community Council because its groundbreaking publication tells our new neighbours that no-one in these parts has a very high opinion of the PSNI. That's the truth, of course. In fact, even the PSNI acknowledges it as the truth. But in the world of Big Brother, they can't handle the truth.
This scandalous decision must be challenged and overcome for it is but the tip of an iceberg of intolerance and prejudice — the very traits this anti-racism pack was tackling.
We also learnt this week, that three months after publication and with sales in the five figures, government departments are banning ads in Daily Ireland, which again finds itself out of step with officialdom. The Andersonstown News has launched a landmark legal bid to overturn that ban before jobs have to be cut in July. Like the Falls Community Council, it won't be the first time we've taken on the government and, with community support, come out on top.
