Ban Plastic Bullets Now

A political mural advocating for a ban on plastic bullets, a controversial law enforcement tool used during the conflict in Northern Ireland. The mural is located on Islandbawn Street, as indicated by the bilingual street sign in English and Irish.

Key Elements of the Mural:
Bold Protest Message:

The central message, in large white and red capital letters, reads:
"BAN PLASTIC BULLETS NOW!"
Below this, additional text states:
"Seeking justice for victims of rubber & plastic bullets."
The phrase "Plastic bullets = murder, maim & mayhem!" reinforces the mural's condemnation of their use.
List of Victims:

On the left side of the mural, there is a grid of black-and-white and color photographs of individuals, accompanied by their names and ages.
The victims' ages range from 10 to 45 years old.
Names listed include:
Francis Rowntree (aged 11)
Stephen Geddis (aged 10)
Carol Ann Kelly (aged 12)
Julie Livingstone (aged 14)
Seamus Duffy (aged 15)
The inclusion of these names and photos personalizes the issue and serves as a memorial.
Graphic Imagery:

To the right of the message, there is a splattered blood effect, reinforcing the lethal consequences of plastic bullets.
Two plastic bullet casings are illustrated to highlight the type of ammunition being protested against.
Campaign Affiliation:

The bottom right corner of the mural features the logo for UCAPB (United Campaign Against Plastic Bullets), indicating the organization behind the awareness campaign.
Historical & Political Context:
Plastic and rubber bullets were used extensively in Northern Ireland during the Troubles, particularly against nationalist and republican communities.
Several children and young people were killed or seriously injured by them, leading to widespread outcry.
The campaign seeks to ban their use due to their deadly consequences, even though they were originally intended as "non-lethal" crowd control weapons.