Police in Glasgow have promised to crack down on troublemakers as protesters gather today amid anger over the city council’s decision to ban a number of Loyalist and Republican marches.
Six processions planned for this weekend were blocked by the authority on police advice following two weekends of violence. It is understood no appeals were launched against the decisions.
However, Scottish Protestants Against Discrimination are set to protest in George Square today – and Orange Lodge Grand Master Jim McGarg has urged his members to join the “peaceful assembly”.
Chief Superintendent Hazel Hendren, divisional commander for the Greater Glasgow Division, has promised anyone intent on causing trouble in the city will be dealt with. “Any procession that takes place will be subject to a comprehensive policing operation,” she said.
“Anyone intent on criminality or anti-social behaviour will be dealt with appropriately.”
On Thursday, council leader Susan Aitken said the authority would consider “every option available to us”, including whether a “moratorium (a temporary ban) on such marches in the interest of public safety would be workable and provide all those concerned with the breathing space needed to find a solution”.
Justice Secretary Humza Yousaf has backed Ms Aitken’s suggestion of a possible moratorium.
He said “Glasgow had had enough” of the violence and disruption that recent marches have caused.
In response to the council’s decision to ban this weekend’s marches, the Republican Network For Unity, which had planned to march, said: “Processions that had taken place weeks earlier were met with counter demonstrations.
“It has been suggested these same protesters turned their attention to our commemoration and had already started a social media campaign to get as many as possible to attend at a prearranged meeting point on our route.
“However we challenge the accuracy of this information.
“Republican Network For Unity Scotland demand to know was the decision taken solely on the information on social media?
“We hear reports daily of misinformation throughout the internet.”
The statement added: “We also query, will the same protocol be adopted on Remembrance Sunday and the 12th of July to other people who also gather to remember their fallen comrades who also were combatants in war?”
Senior members of the Grand Orange Lodge of Scotland claimed the council’s decision was illegal.
Mr McHarg said: “It is a sad day for democracy when a narrow-minded band of anti-Unionist nationalist councillors, aided and abetted by Police Scotland, abuse the law and introduce illegal measures that curtail a citizen’s right of peaceful assembly.”
They also moved to distance themselves from groups involved in heated incidents with police in the past fortnight.
Urging people to attend today’s protest, Mr McHarg added: “This is not a parade that requires notice, instead, this will be a peaceful assembly under the Human Rights Act. Come along, be seen, wear your colours and let it be known we will not be bullied off our city streets.”
Meanwhile, the Church of Scotland has said it is supportive of a decision taken by the city council during the week to block the processions.
Rev Dr Richard Frazer, convener of the Kirk’s Church and Society Council, said: “We recognise the decision made by Glasgow City Council to ban further parades planned for this weekend was not based on religious discrimination, nor a desire to oppress the Protestant faith.
“The council has a responsibility to ensure the safety and well-being of all within the city and, in doing this, the council needs to take into account the advice it receives from the police and the concerns of the communities involved.”
Why are you making commenting on The Herald only available to subscribers?
It should have been a safe space for informed debate, somewhere for readers to discuss issues around the biggest stories of the day, but all too often the below the line comments on most websites have become bogged down by off-topic discussions and abuse.
heraldscotland.com is tackling this problem by allowing only subscribers to comment.
We are doing this to improve the experience for our loyal readers and we believe it will reduce the ability of trolls and troublemakers, who occasionally find their way onto our site, to abuse our journalists and readers. We also hope it will help the comments section fulfil its promise as a part of Scotland's conversation with itself.
We are lucky at The Herald. We are read by an informed, educated readership who can add their knowledge and insights to our stories.
That is invaluable.
We are making the subscriber-only change to support our valued readers, who tell us they don't want the site cluttered up with irrelevant comments, untruths and abuse.
In the past, the journalist’s job was to collect and distribute information to the audience. Technology means that readers can shape a discussion. We look forward to hearing from you on heraldscotland.com
Comments & Moderation
Readers’ comments: You are personally liable for the content of any comments you upload to this website, so please act responsibly. We do not pre-moderate or monitor readers’ comments appearing on our websites, but we do post-moderate in response to complaints we receive or otherwise when a potential problem comes to our attention. You can make a complaint by using the ‘report this post’ link . We may then apply our discretion under the user terms to amend or delete comments.
Post moderation is undertaken full-time 9am-6pm on weekdays, and on a part-time basis outwith those hours.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel