Madam, - It was heartening to read Patricia Leahy's account of New York's Transit Workers' Union, and its Kerry-born and reared founder, Mike Quill, (An Irishwoman's Diary, December 29th).
During the 1930s, when a shock-jock Irish American priest waged an anti-Jewish radio campaign, the young Mike Quill organised meetings to combat anti-Semitism. In the 1960s he organised support for the Civil Rights movement and Martin Luther King - in the face of the anti-Semitic and anti-Black prejudices of many of his union members.
When he died he was eulogised by Martin Luther King. Mike Quill, King said, had always fought for decent things - the freedom of Ireland, the dignity of working people, and the equality of humankind.
Quill was a lifelong (Irish) republican.
- Yours, etc, DONAL KENNEDY, London N13.