Community Defence Committees

The Community Defence Committees were formed by Lasair Dhearg in the first few months of 2020 in response to the ongoing international crisis caused by the coronavirus.

Without doubt, those most impacted by the Covid-19 crisis were those ignored by the governments in both failed states in Ireland; the Irish working class. In response, Lasair Dhearg set about the creation of committees in working class areas with one thing in mind: defence.

Defence from the economic effects of the virus, and the subsequent government response, by providing goods and resources to those most in need; defence from landlords who would seek to prioritise their profits during the crisis, threatening tenants with eviction due to loss of income; and defence from businesses who would seek to profit from the demand for much needed products with extreme price gouging.

The Community Defence Committees are now supported by a range of Irish left-leaning organisations, with members from a number of different groups and trade unions now contributing their time and resources in helping to build solidarity in the community and push the project forward.