David McNarry, a veteran Drumcree protester looks back on the stand-off at Drumcree and argues that the latest denial of Portadown Orangemen’s right to walk the Garvaghy Road shows why unionism can no longer afford to stay divided.
As a veteran Drumcree protestor. I vividly recall Portadown Orangeman, Bro. David Jones addressing a large crowd on Drumcree Hill, quoting Martin Luther words “Here I stand. I cannot do otherwise”.
Back in the day. I was honoured to be part of a small team with David Trimble representing Portadown District Lodge No1. We met Secretaries of State, a Prime Minister, a USA President and Garvaghy residents. Promises aired by the government were subsequently dishonoured.
Then as now, the civil right, freedom and liberty of Orangemen to legally walk a public road were politically denied. Chris Bryant’s banning of the walk caved into sectarian law breakers with the consequences of political and societal instability creating potentially dangerous circumstances.
Portadown Orangemen under the exemplary leadership of District Master Bro. Nigel Dawson cannot and must not be used or abused by anyone attempting to turn the denial of their rights into a political football.
Without doubt the unruly behaviour of the Garvaghy residents recalled our truly obnoxious experience of the events of 28 years ago, which the unionist family have not forgotten.
Egged on by the First Minister Michelle O’Neill, the flaunting of the law was clearly there for the world to see and judge. Ms. O’Neill openly portrayed the audacious model of a First Minister unfit to hold high public office.
To remove Michelle O’Neill and her Sinn Fein cohorts. Only a single unified unionist party can take on and replace nationalism as the largest designated party affiliation in the Assembly.
Now is an opportune time to adopt policies, strategies and principles embracing the overriding objective of political unity rejuvenating confidence to maximise the unionist vote.
Unionists agree that O’Neill must go. Question is when? So over to you, Gavin, Jon and Jim make it happen at the ballot box. It’s called leadership! Are you allies and unifiers or perpetual opponents squabbling over party preferentialism?
The fate of political unionism is in your own hands. The unionist electorate are saying,….’Here we stand we cannot do otherwise’.
This is a guest slot to give a platform for new writers either as a one off, or a prelude to becoming part of the regular Slugger team.
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