Gaughan an anti-racist?

Taking the bare facts of the event in question, based on the book passages provided, the communists take liberties in trying to project their generalised ideology onto Michael Gaughan, God rest him. He is described as a "republican and anti-racist".

There is a traditional interpretation of his actions that sufficiently explains them. England's difficulty is Ireland's opportunity. If you are in an English prison, because you oppose English rule, and the English prisoners in the English prison start on another national group, it makes sense that you would oppose them in their endeavour. That's before going into the specific details of the situation, which I am not knowledgeable on.

If there are relevant facts that support the communist interpretation, I will acknowledge them.

The incident as described certainly shows that Gaughan was not racist or at least not racist to an extent that it overrode his Fenian hostility to Anglo-Saxons. But it does not show that he was anti-racist per se. It does not show that he was an anti-racist in addition to being republican. His republicanism is more than capable of accounting for his actions.

Gaughan was a great patriot, shame on the communists who try and make him into something other than what he was and use his memory for their present-day agenda.