A silent protest has been staged outside a Glasgow church against a Loyalist walk.
A peaceful protest organised by Call It Out, the anti-Catholic bigotry campaign group, saw campaigners stand at the entrance to St Alphonsus' Church on London Road, where a Dalmarnock Orange & Purple District No.50 Parade passed by.
Canon Thomas White was attacked and subject to vile sectarian abuse outside the chapel, near The Barras market, in July last year.
READ MORE: In full: The 127 streets in Glasgow set to host an Orange Walk this summer
Following the incident Bradley Wallace was jailed for 10 months in February after admitting assaulting the priest - a charge aggravated by religious prejudice.
Since the incident, tensions have risen as campaigners call for Glasgow City Council and Police Scotland to reroute marches away from Catholic churches.
Call It Out posted a video to their Twitter feed of the police officers after the Saturday protest.
Glasgow 2019. This is what's required to police an anti-Catholic march past a Catholic church. pic.twitter.com/f4OvtjpBEz
— Call It Out (@Call_It_Out_) May 18, 2019
And they say they were met with anti-Catholic and anti-Irish chants.
The group said that Glasgow City Council continues to allow these marches to pass churches and in doing so "fails to protect the minority Catholic community".
Scottish Labour general secretary Brian Roy responded to video footage of the police presence saying: "What a shameful indictment on modern Scotland when high presence police are required to protect a place of religious worship.
"This would be unacceptable under any circumstances, other than apparently an anti-Catholic march past a Catholic church. This should shame us all."
Jeanette Findlay who heads Call It Out criticised the situation on social media saying that police used "huge quantities of the resources that they consistently claim are so scarce to accompany an anti-Catholic parade and all its coat-trailers past this beautiful church, its parish priest and its parishioners of all ages".
She added: "Yesterday, to see a large number of riot vans, mounted police officers, anti-terrorist units and well over 100 officers – some bussed in from Edinburgh and Ayrshire - being used to ‘facilitate’ a crowd of bigots who insist on marching past Catholic churches was quite literally sickening.
1/3 How many @policescotland officers does it take to police an anti-Catholic march passing by a Catholic church? With every vehicle packed full of officers, I’ll let you do the maths...@Call_It_Out_ @AngelaHaggerty pic.twitter.com/qCDVNaxQLo
— Mr Glasgow (@MrGlasgow84) May 18, 2019
"It would appear that the ‘right’ of the Loyal Orders to parade their hatred is one which the Police Service of Scotland views as being more important than our right to peacefully protest. That is a matter we will be taking up with them and Glasgow City Council – assuming, of course, that the council leader will speak to us or even do us the courtesy of answering any one of the three emails we have sent in the last six weeks asking for a meeting."
She said one police officer told protesters that they would be "physically" moved if they did not move back behind cars "adding insult to injury".
She said that in the first weekend in June, Loyal Orders will conduct processions pass the Catholic churches in the Calton, St Mary’s and St Alphonsus, that are served by Canon White "Three times in the one weekend...is anyone suggesting this is anything other than organised intimidation and hatred?" she asked.
"I appeal to both the Police Service of Scotland and/or Glasgow City Council to take action. If they don’t, then we must.
A Glasgow City Council spokeswoman said: “We have a limited legislative framework to work within – but, it is a fact that the number of public processions taking place in Glasgow has fallen substantially.
“We will continue to examine how best we can balance the rights of communities with those of people who wish to march – and we will respond where our partners raise concerns over public order and safety.
"However, the fact remains that this campaign is demanding the council takes action it knows are well beyond its legal powers."
A Police Scotland spokesman said: "Police Scotland had comprehensive and appropriate policing operation in place. There was no information that the parade would significantly risk public safety, disorder, damage to property or disruption to the life of the community. As part of our extensive and detailed planning for the event we engaged with a wide range of stakeholders including the local parish council of St Alphonsus and Canon Tom White to facilitate the parade and any counter demonstration.
"While the decision to amend the route, the time of, or prohibit any parade is a matter for Glasgow City Council, Police Scotland is happy to engage with any organisation or member of the public to discuss our policing of similar events."
Trade unions within Glasgow wrote an open letter of support for the Call It Out protest saying: "Anti-Catholic bigotry and anti-Irish racism remain systemic problems in Scotland. "
2day Glasgow endured yet another anti-Catholic march passing a Catholic church. @DavidLinden, as someone I genuinely believe has the best interests of the people at heart, can I ask you what your position on this matter is & what you can do to address concerns? @Call_It_Out_ pic.twitter.com/WqsCVGy3bz
— Mr Glasgow (@MrGlasgow84) May 18, 2019
The next anti-Catholic marches past St Mary's and St Alphonsus are on the 1st and 2nd of June - see routes and timings below. Lets hope @policescotland and @GlasgowCC use their existing powers to protect the Catholic community from intimidation. But if they don't then we must! pic.twitter.com/8BFzRBEz9J
— Call It Out (@Call_It_Out_) May 18, 2019
‘We’ve sat at the back of the bus for too long!’ A warning to @GlasgowCC and a call to the Catholics of Scotland, we won’t endure this any longer. @Call_It_Out_ pic.twitter.com/ec1CcGWAPv
— Aidan (@JustAidanH) May 18, 2019
There can be no doubt about the nature of these marches. They are clearly intimidating towards the Catholic minority community. This is the church where a priest was assaulted last summer. Say it loud and clear to @GlasgowCC: Re-route ALL anti-Catholic marches away from churches. pic.twitter.com/bArzhtVpFK
— Call It Out (@Call_It_Out_) May 18, 2019
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