Bobby Sands died forty years ago today, May 5, 1981 after 66 days on hunger strike. The hunger strikes began after a lengthy prison protest had failed to stop the British government’s policy of ending special-category status granted in 1972. The prisoners were demanding the return of privileges that allowed them to wear their own clothes at all times, associate freely, be exempt from prison work, organize their own education and recreational activities and have prison remission (removed because of the protests) restored. Ten died in the hunger strikes, seven IRA members and three INLA members. Sands was 27 when he died. Pictured is a mural dedicated to Sands.
