Social Democrat Limerick councillor Elisa O’Donovan travelled to New York with the Council for St Patrick’s Day events.
Taking time out of her council trip, she attended a demonstration on Colombia University grounds.
The protest was in relation to the immigration and customs enforcement agency (ICE), who have been called Trumps “Gestapo” by multiple media personalities.
Cllr O’Donovan shared it was her second trip abroad for St. Patrick’s Day festivities since her election to the council.
She stated that “no council money, resources or time were used for this part of her stay in New York.”
O’Donovan stated she had completed her council work before she took the personal break to attend the demonstration.
Cllr O’Donovan shared the importance of supporting “the staff and students of Universities in cities across America” who are currently in a “fight against rights being taken away.”
She also shared she had been in “close contact” with the New-York- Irish for Palestine group and the Irish against Ice group and “has been hearing in detail what is happening on the ground.”
Cllr O’Donovan finished her statement to Limerick Voice sharing “[she is] proud and will continue to support every protest against human rights violation and authoritarian regimes every chance [she] gets.”