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AFTER AN EMERGENCY meeting held at Clifton Street Orange
Hall on Thursday night (8 July) and attended by representatives
from all ten districts in the city, the County Grand Orange
Lodge of Belfast issued the following statement:
"The Country Grand Orange Lodge of Belfast again condemns
the Parades Commission for their incomprehensible decision
regarding the Ligoniel Lodges and Monday's Twelfth of July
parade. This is a clear attempt to cause division and dissension
within the ranks of the Unionist family. It did not work at
the annual Whiterock parade, and it will not work now.
Belfast County Grand Lodge fully supports the right of the
Ligoniel Lodges and supporters to return to the Ligoniel area
following the annual Twelfth demonstration. To ensure this
outcome, the County Grand Lodge has put in place plans that
will enable the whole county to support the Ligoniel brethren,
bands and supporters as they seek to complete their journey
home.
These plans will not affect the demonstration and we encourage
everyone to come and enjoy the Twelfth parade. We must not
allow the cultural fascists of the Parades Commission to ruin
our day: stand firm with us and show that Protestants are
no longer prepared to be second class citizens.
The Commission is in the business of punishing Protestants
rather than policing parades. Enough is Enough! Their reign
of arrogance and incompetence must be stopped. This is just
the beginning. We will not allow others to play God and determine
which Orange and Loyalist traditions are permissible."
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