The Ancient Order of Hibernians has stated its "strong opposition" to the proposed trade deal between Florida and the United Kingdom.
In a letter to Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, AOH National Political Education Chair Neil F. Cosgrove expressed concern about the UK Parliament’s recent passage of the Northern Ireland Troubles and Reconciliation Act, which grants amnesty for murder and other crimes committed during the conflict in Northern Ireland.
The letter states: "The UK Parliament recently passed the Northern Ireland Troubles and Reconciliation Act, which grants amnesty for murder and other crimes committed during the Troubles.
"The bill will halt all criminal investigations court proceedings and give an amnesty for all crimes committed during the Northern Ireland conflict, even murder. Per legal scholars, this amnesty goes even further than the infamous amnesty of (Chilean) Dictator Pinochet.
"In historic unity, this act is rejected by all elements of Northern Ireland society, Unionist and Nationalist, Catholic and Protestant. Once again, England is making policy in Ireland without the Irish people's consent."
The letter continued: "In unilaterally terminating investigations and barring access to the courts for the victims of the legacy of the Troubles, the UK has broken its pledged commitments under the Good Friday, St. Andrew's, and Stormont agreements.
"They have broken faith with the basic principle of their own Magna Carta and our U.S. Constitution that no one is above the law. Why would the state of Florida want to enter into any agreement with a partner who has such a poor record of honoring commitments, whose commitments are only as good as the political expedience of the moment?
"A trade deal between Florida and the UK would send a clear message that Florida and your administration condone the UK's amnesty law and its rejection of justice for the victims of the conflict in Northern Ireland.
"Respectfully, Governor DeSantis, would your administration willingly enter into a trade agreement with any other nation that has instituted an amnesty to shield the actions of its military and intelligence services? No relationship should be so 'special' that, as Americans, we should be required to turn a blind eye to injustice and become an accessory after the fact.
"I remind you, Governor DeSantis, of the words of the late Martin Luther King: 'Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.' We cannot, with credibility, be morally outraged by the actions of Russian soldiers in Ukraine while rewarding the lack of pursuit of outrages in Belfast with a trade deal.
"On behalf of our membership, the AOH respectfully ask you to reject the proposed trade deal between Florida and the UK."
