LOYALISTS have expressed growing support for a protest in Glasgow at the weekend after a council decision to ban their marches through the city this weekend.
A gathering is scheduled for Saturday morning in George Square after senior members of the Grand Orange Lodge of Scotland claimed Glasgow City Council’s decision to prohibit six parades on Saturday and Sunday is illegal.
However there is one march that will be going ahead in Rutherglen, just three miles away from one of the prohibited processions, because it has been sanctioned by the neighbouring local authority, South Lanarkshire Council.
The council said there had been no objections.
Around 100 are expected to take part in the parade organised by the Rutherglen Orange and Purple District 20 group to commemorate the 98th anniverary of the town's Orange hall.
The parade accompanied by the town's only remaining flute band, Rutherglen Bluebell, will start at around 4.15pm from Cathcart Place.
It is just three miles away from where the Bridgeton Protestant Boys would have gathered in Broad Street for its procession, which has been hit by the council decision.
That procession will start six hours after the the beginning of the George Square protest organised by the new Scottish Protestants Against Discrimination group that says the city ban was a violation of human rights.
READ MORE: Orange Order to protest in George Square after 'illegal' city council march ban
THe Scottish Amalgamated Committee of the Apprentice Boys of Derry said the decision was an attack on democracy.
The council's Public Processions Committee made the decision to prohibit the marches planned for Saturday and Sunday following serious sectarian disorder at similar events over the past two weekends.
The police had warned there was a strong likelihood of disorder and a large number of officers would be required.
Four Loyalist marches and an Irish Republican parade planned for this weekend were banned by the council after a meeting on Wednesday.
Supt John McBride said there had been calls on social media from Republicans to target Loyalist events and demands from Loyalists to protest against Republican parades.
READ MORE: Peace breaks out as Orange Order offers to change Glasgow route
Thomas Porteous, chairman of the Scottish Amalgamated Committee of the Apprentice Boys of Derry said in a circular that "nationalist councillors in Scotland aided by Police Scotland" had "attacked democracy" and "abused the law, as we see it, and enforced prohibition orders on a number of loyalist parades due to take place this weekend".
"Whilst the recent move by Glasgow City Council was not to ban any ABOD parades this weekend, we cannot be complacent and must stand united with other loyal orders, protestant groups and the protestant unionist loyalist (PUL) community more than ever.
"The ABOD calls upon all members to resist any attempts to suppress our community, curtail our culture or even stop us from having a voice."
The group said it supported the protest gathering which it said would be "be a peaceful assembly under the Human Rights Act".
It concluded: "Let it be known that we will not be bullied off our city streets."
The Glasgow Flute Band Association which issued its support for the protest said it was "disgusted" by the council decision.
A spokesman for South Lanarkshire Council said: “Rutherglen Orange and Purple District 20 have been given permission to parade in Rutherglen on Saturday, 14 September, 2019.
"No objections or representations were received in connection with the parade notification and the notice was dealt with under delegated powers."
A Glasgow City Council spokesman said: “The right to march has to be balanced against the right of people and communities across Glasgow to be safe.
“That is our priority. It is also a priority for the vast majority of Glaswegians, who are rightly appalled by recent events and those intent on stoking division and disruption.”
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