SDLP will not attend St Patrick’s Day events in Washington DC
SDLP leader Claire Hanna said the party was taking the stance in protest at the US administration position on Gaza.
The SDLP has ruled out attending any events for St Patrick’s Day in Washington DC next month.
Traditionally, political leaders from across the island travel to the US capital every March to take part in events.
These include the presentation by the Irish premier of a bowl of shamrock to the US President at the White House.
However, SDLP leader Claire Hanna said her party will not take part for the second year in a row due to the stance by the US over Gaza.
“Last year, the SDLP made the decision not to send anyone to Washington for St Patrick’s Day as we could not endorse the US government while it armed and supported the bombardment of Gaza,” she said.
“We hope the fragile ceasefire will deliver a lasting peace and the return of hostages to their families, but the rhetoric of Donald Trump, around the displacement and ethnic cleansing of millions of people, is absolutely beyond the pale.
“We can’t in good conscience attend parties hosted in that context.”
Northern Ireland’s First Minister, Michelle O’Neill, and deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly have not yet indicated if they will attend St Patrick’s Day events in the US this year.
Speaking last month, Ms O’Neill said: “We still haven’t received an invite, but we’ll judge all that when it comes to it.”
DUP MLA David Brooks criticised the SDLP position as “nothing more than a petulant stunt”.
“The SDLP’s decision to boycott the White House’s St Patrick’s Day celebrations is nothing more than a petulant stunt that exposes their contempt for President Trump,” he said.
“Given their decision to boycott a key event at the White House, it seems clear that it is the SDLP who have little respect for the high office of the presidency.”
He added that his party “will use the access to the corridors of power in Washington to stand up for Northern Ireland and our economic and cultural ties with America”.
