The role Oak Ridgers, Harriman residents had in ending 'the troubles' in Northern Ireland
To the Editor:
In April 1997, Oak Ridgers in “a city born of war and living for peace” and residents of Harriman, signed a petition to the people of Northern Ireland asking them to end “the troubles” and make peace between Protestants and Catholics.
The Petition reads “A Petition to the Citizens of Antrim and All of Northern Ireland: The following citizens of Oak Ridge and Harriman, Tennessee, U.S.A., many of whom claim Northern Ireland as their homeland, and who feel deeply the pain of the struggle in this beloved country, do hereby petition the citizens of County Antrim and all of Northern Ireland to be concerned and aware of the grief and humiliation which is caused by first one part of the population and then another through threats and acts of terrorism and by the "marching season" and to consider foregoing all these practices in order to allow old wounds to begin to heal.
"We, the undersigned, assure you of our prayers and heartfelt longing for the healing of this country which we love."
Members of the local clergy put together the wording of the petition: Father John Wood, St. Mary’s Catholic Church; Rev. Dwyn Mounger, First Presbyterian Church; Father Stephen Freeman, rector of St. Stephen's, and Virginia Jones, member of St. Stephen’s. Priscilla Richter, at the Oak Ridge Unitarian-Universalist Church, made the petition available for signatures, as did Sisters Marceline, Frances, Sheila, Rita of Harriman and Brother Doug of Harriman.
The Petition was sent to The Ballymena Guardian in Antrim, where news of violence in that city reached Oak Ridge through The Christian Science Monitor. The Guardian’s editor, Maurice O’Neill, published the petition and sent a copy to the British Minister for Northern Ireland, Mo Mowlam, who wrote to Mrs. Jones acknowledging receipt of the petition with thanks. The BBC reported news of the petition.
In April 1998, the Good Friday Peace Accord was signed and the Oak Ridgers and residents of Harriman who signed the petition can today take some satisfaction in making a small contribution to the peace process.
This year, in 2023, in April, President Joseph Biden is scheduled to begin a visit to both Northern Ireland and the Republic to mark the 25th Anniversary of the Good Friday Peace Accord. He is scheduled to arrive April 11.
Virginia Jones
Oak Ridge
This article originally appeared on Oakridger: Role local residents had in ending 'the troubles' in Northern Ireland
