More than a thousand Loyalists, backed by members of the Orange Order, have descended on Glasgow City Chambers to protest the council’s ‘illegal’ banning of marches.
On Wednesday, an emergency public processions committee ruled that six parades this weekend – by Loyalist and Irish Republican groups – would be prohibited following advice from Police Scotland.
The move sparked uproar from the Orange Lodge of Scotland, who took action to join the Scottish Protestants Against Discrimination (SPAD) at George Square from 9.45am this morning.
The civic space was a sea of red, white, blue and orange as Union flags and Orange Order uniforms filed the square.
Loud cheers could be heard as organisers made their points, slamming the council for their “disgraceful” decision to ban the marches.
At one point, protesters held up a large white banner which read “SNP blood on your hands. IRA off our streets”.
Police were out in force, with tensions heightened following two weekends of severe disruption surrounding parades in the city.
READ MORE: Police vow as protesters gather over Glasgow marches ban
Around 100 officers monitored events as more and more protesters joined.
Mounted units and riot vans were on alert in the streets surrounding the square but were not called into action.
A number of mounted police have just gone past the square. Officers with riot helmets are also in attendance. pic.twitter.com/04Wq4b0uOp
— Jack Aitchison (@JackAitchison15) September 14, 2019
City chambers, the council’s HQ, was closed to all staff except building management after being put on alert by officers.
It’s thought that an internal staff e-mail warned employees of a “substantial” protest, with staff who were due to work being arranged to go elsewhere.
At around 9am, an hour before the protest was due to begin, our reporter witnessed council staff removing every bin from the square.
Asked what they were doing, one employee said it was to make sure they were not set on fire during the protest.
There were five Loyalists and one Irish Republican parades planned in the city this weekend.
On Saturday, the Republican Network for Unity, Bridgeton Protestant Boys Flute Band, Pride of the North Flute Band and two marches from the Whiteinch Orange and Purple District were due to take place.
Meanwhile, the Partick Orange and Purple District had arranged to march on Sunday.
The Orange Order announced the decision to join the Loyalists demonstration in a statement Wednesday – despite making moves to distance themselves from groups involved in the heated incidents with police in the last fortnight.
Jim McHarg, Grand Master of the Orange Lodge, said the group could “no longer ignore…whilst our democratic right of free assembly is curtailed by politically motivated anti-unionist nationalists.”
He added: “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”.
Marches between Irish Republicans and Loyalists have been at the centre of a media storm in recent weeks.
Last Saturday, a major policing operation was deployed in the city centre as two Republican parades – by the Cairde Na Heireann Calton Republicans and the Friends of Irish Republican Prisoners’ Welfare Association - were met with protests.
READ MORE: Church of Scotland back Glasgow City Council on loyalist and republican march ban
On that day, a police officer was injured after he was hit by a pyrotechnic thrown by a protester and while 11 people were arrested for various offences.
And just over a week earlier on August 30, riot-like scenes erupted in Govan after Loyalist protesters disrupted an Irish Unity march by the James Connolly Republican Flute Band.
On Thursday, the council revealed it is investigating whether a moratorium on public processions could be introduced to ease tensions while a long-term approach to parades is considered.
The move was backed by Justice Secretary Humza Yousaf, who wrote on Twitter: “Glasgow has had enough!”
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