Allegations of 'fascism' contested by The Environmental Gathering
'It was with disbelief and dismay that an elected representative would compare our community grass-roots activism to fascism'
The Environmental Gathering organisation has issued a statement outlining its decision to "boycott" Derry City and Strabane District Council's Planning Working Group.
The convenors of The Gathering said it had declined an invitation from Council to present to its Planning Working Group on May 27, 2025, on the proposed implementation of the Arloesi consultant’s report into the operations of the Council’s planning service.
"This action was taken in protest at the offensive use of the term 'fascism' by a senior elected representative when referring to local climate campaigners. We believe such language is unacceptable and damaging to public discourse," added the convenors.
"A second campaigner who was also due to present to the Council withdrew from the event in solidarity with The Gathering’s position. Other organisations who did present at the event also expressed understanding and support for The Gathering’s stance.
"Our invitation to present was rejected in protest at the unacceptable and offensive use of the term “fascism” by an elected member at the full Council in February 2025 when discussing a previous presentation made by The Gathering and rural community group Save the Moat to the Environment and Regeneration Committee earlier that same month.
"That presentation raised legitimate concerns and questions of decision makers over why climate change was not a material planning consideration when granting permissions for data centres which are known to be massive consumers of electricity and major emitters of greenhouse gases.
"Those making the presentation to the Committee and supporters in the public gallery conducted themselves in a respectful and constructive manner at all times. Therefore, it was with disbelief and dismay that an elected representative would compare our community grass-roots activism to 'fascism'. This is all the more serious coming from the leader of the largest political party on Council," said the convenors.
The Gathering said itself, citizens concerned with energy security, the worsening climate crisis and the impact on rural communities, and Save the Moat utterly rejected this "unfounded slur" on local activism and activists.
The convenors added: "At the meeting of May 27, [Cllr] Chris Jackson confirmed he stood by his use of the term Fascism. He also stated that things did not ‘stack up’ because The Gathering waited three months to reply to his comments of Feb 2024.
"It must be noted that our initial concerns regarding planning in DCSDC area were submitted to Arloesi consultants in July 2024. It was not until May 13, 2025 that The Gathering was invited to attend a Planning Working Group to share our concerns. Therefore, our letter rejecting participation in the meeting of May 27 could not have been sent any earlier.
"The Gathering subsequently decided to boycott the Planning Working Group meeting to which we were issued an invitation on May 13 as a point of principle because we no longer had any faith in the process and because of the unwarranted comment was made in the meeting of February 27. Save the Moat did put out a statement on March 4 regarding the use of the term Fascism in meeting of February 27.
"At a time of great political instability around the world, it is extremely reckless and totally unacceptable for any elected representative or political party to attempt to draw comparisons between communities raising climate change concerns and fascism – and by implication, comparing those asking legitimate questions of Council decision makers to fascists.
Given that the leader of SF council group confirmed on May 27 that he stood by his 'fascism' comment of February 2025, The Gathering calls on: Sinn Fein in Derry to distance itself from these unfounded and unjustified remarks and demand that Sinn Féin Party Leader in Council withdraw this shameful word and slur on community activists."