28-07-2025
Protests planned for Barack Obama's Freedom of Dublin visit in September
Protests are being planned for former US president Barack Obama's visit in September.
Obama and his wife have been invited to accept their Freedom of Dublin award during the trip.
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Barack and Michelle Obama were originally given the Freedom of Dublin award in 2017, but have not yet formally accepted it.
It is Dublin's highest honour, and is given to individuals whose leadership has made 'a profound contribution to the world'.
PRO and secretary of the Irish Anti-War Movement, Jim Roche, said the group protested when Obama visited in 2011 and will protest again in September.
He maintains that Obama's contribution to the world is not peaceful.
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"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.
"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."
On the other hand, Lord Mayor Ray McAdam said the couple are more than deserving of the Freedom of Dublin.
"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.
The Obamas will not have to worry about paying any customs duties on their trip, at least, as one privilege included in the Freedom of Dublin is the right to bring goods into Dublin through the city gates without paying a fee.
