Orange Walk / Scottish Cricket thread

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From the Herald. The OO are claiming they are an ethnic minority

erry Braiden

A ROW has erupted over an event celebrating the Orange Order's heritage and culture, with the country's biggest council accused of "courting votes at public expense".

Days before its inaugural 'Orangefest', which the often controversial Protestant organisation claims is an attempt to open it up to the wider public, opposition politicians in Glasgow have called on the local authority to declare how much it is spending on the event.

The city's SNP group has also claimed the council was under no obligation to allow the use of George Square, which

is let on a commercial basis.

But the organisation, which was given a reception at the City Chambers last night, said it was entitled to a community discount. It also questioned critics opposing the event, claiming that while it does not support the Scottish independence-themed events in the square in recent months it recognises the right to freedom of expression and assembly.

The organisation, whose existence is based on the military victory by the Protestant King William Of Orange over forces led by the Catholic King James II more than 300 years ago, announced its day of events in Glasgow last autumn.

It has has been billed as an "opportunity to gain an understanding of the cultural heritage and modus operandi of the Orange Lodge as a whole", with invitations extended to the Catholic Church, as well as the leaders of other faiths and all politicians in the city.

As well as bands, prayers, a Last Night At The Prom-style concert and speeches, academic and journalist Ruth Dudley Edwards will be speaking, along with former top flight football referee Mike McCurry.

The Herald understands that police have categorised the event as "low risk" during planning.

But the SNP has now called for costs to be made public.

A spokesman for its group on the council said: "Whilst Glasgow Labour has been courting this vote for years it shouldn't be at public expense. The public will want to know how much was spent on a civic reception and if any discounts have been given for hiring George Square.

"It's not compulsory to agree to every let for George Square so maybe some careful thought should have been given to this request."

But Eddie Hyde, Grand Master of the County Grand Orange Lodge Of Glasgow, said: "We will apply for a community discount, as we are entitled, and fund the rest ourselves. Why shouldn't the event go ahead?

"We have a distinct culture stretching back hundreds of years in the city and I would class us as an ethnic minority entitled to promote ourselves the same as any other faith.

"We stand for civil and religious liberties for all. We may not like the other events in George Square and disagree with much of it but we respect their right to assemble and express themselves in George Square or wherever."

A city council spokesman said: "People use George Square and other public spaces in Glasgow for a range of events and activities.

"Providing the events are properly planned and don't encourage unlawful behaviour the council is not permitted to simply ban them on the grounds that someone dislike aspects or holds contrary views to the organisers."

One source said: "Say what you like about the Orange Order but they are a legal organisation and when it comes to organising events they stick to the rules rigidly.

"Yet in recent months we've had any number of events just set up in the Square without any permission, which is a major insurance and public liability nightmare apart from anything else."

[topcat(The most tip top)]

From the Herald. The OO are claiming they are an ethnic minority

One would like to believe that the gap between normal mainstream Scottish cultural identity and theirs has become so wide that they have a point.

[THE KING]

Orangefest.

Bigotfest more like.

Good to see the Ref getting a show...2.30..

http://athousandflowers.net/2015/06/01/orangefest-set-to-take-over-glasgow-this-saturday/..

[lau03143]

From the Herald. The OO are claiming they are an ethnic minority [emoji38]

erry Braiden

A ROW has erupted over an event celebrating the Orange Order's heritage and culture, with the country's biggest council accused of "courting votes at public expense".

Days before its inaugural 'Orangefest', which the often controversial Protestant organisation claims is an attempt to open it up to the wider public, opposition politicians in Glasgow have called on the local authority to declare how much it is spending on the event.

The city's SNP group has also claimed the council was under no obligation to allow the use of George Square, which

is let on a commercial basis.

But the organisation, which was given a reception at the City Chambers last night, said it was entitled to a community discount. It also questioned critics opposing the event, claiming that while it does not support the Scottish independence-themed events in the square in recent months it recognises the right to freedom of expression and assembly.

The organisation, whose existence is based on the military victory by the Protestant King William Of Orange over forces led by the Catholic King James II more than 300 years ago, announced its day of events in Glasgow last autumn.

It has has been billed as an "opportunity to gain an understanding of the cultural heritage and modus operandi of the Orange Lodge as a whole", with invitations extended to the Catholic Church, as well as the leaders of other faiths and all politicians in the city.

As well as bands, prayers, a Last Night At The Prom-style concert and speeches, academic and journalist Ruth Dudley Edwards will be speaking, along with former top flight football referee Mike McCurry.

The Herald understands that police have categorised the event as "low risk" during planning.

But the SNP has now called for costs to be made public.

A spokesman for its group on the council said: "Whilst Glasgow Labour has been courting this vote for years it shouldn't be at public expense. The public will want to know how much was spent on a civic reception and if any discounts have been given for hiring George Square.

"It's not compulsory to agree to every let for George Square so maybe some careful thought should have been given to this request."

But Eddie Hyde, Grand Master of the County Grand Orange Lodge Of Glasgow, said: "We will apply for a community discount, as we are entitled, and fund the rest ourselves. Why shouldn't the event go ahead?

"We have a distinct culture stretching back hundreds of years in the city and I would class us as an ethnic minority entitled to promote ourselves the same as any other faith.

"We stand for civil and religious liberties for all. We may not like the other events in George Square and disagree with much of it but we respect their right to assemble and express themselves in George Square or wherever."

A city council spokesman said: "People use George Square and other public spaces in Glasgow for a range of events and activities.

"Providing the events are properly planned and don't encourage unlawful behaviour the council is not permitted to simply ban them on the grounds that someone dislike aspects or holds contrary views to the organisers."

One source said: "Say what you like about the Orange Order but they are a legal organisation and when it comes to organising events they stick to the rules rigidly.

"Yet in recent months we've had any number of events just set up in the Square without any permission, which is a major insurance and public liability nightmare apart from anything else."

Mike McCurry as a guest speaker... interesting!

[AberdeenBud]

Distinct culture.

Ethnic minority.

f**k off you bigoted cretins.

[Miguel Sanchez]

"Days before its inaugural 'Orangefest', which the often controversial Protestant organisation claims is an attempt to open it up to the wider public,"

That would be an interesting sales pitch to a bemused onlooker who went along to see what all the fuss was about.

[THE KING]

Mike McCurry as a guest speaker... interesting!

Yes at 2.30 it's Mike(not biased )McCurry..

[LongTimeLurker]

Council trying to justify it

ImageUploadedByPie & Bovril1433246405.636642.jpg

The council is telling you the reality of it. Freedom of assembly is a protected right under the European Convention on Human Rights, which is now part of Scots Law since the Scotland Act that set up devolution.

[AberdeenBud]

The council is telling you the reality of it. Freedom of assembly is a protected right under the European Convention on Human Rights, which is now part of Scots Law since the Scotland Act that set up devolution.

No one's disputing that FoA is protected, but thanks for that anyway.

The ECHR does not commit GCC into letting a bunch of bigoted religious nutters take over the city centre.

Edited June 2, 2015 by AberdeenBud

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From the Evening Times.

GLASGOW city centre will grind to a halt on Saturday as a string of temporary road closures take effect at the start of the Orange Order marching season.

The newly-dubbed 'Orangefest Parade' takes place and road restrictions will be in place throughout much of the city centre from 9.30am until 4pm.

Police officers will be taken off duty from as far afield as Stirling, Fife and Edinburgh to be deployed at what will be the first big parade in Scotland since the creation of the new national police force.

There will be 57 parades through Glasgow on the day, as about 4500 members of the Protestant Orange Order and tens of thousands of supporters gather in the city for the organisation's biggest event outside of Northern Ireland.

Driving will be prohibited on key routes during the parade hours.

Major roads affected include George Street, High Street, Duke Street, Ingram Street, West George Street, Nelson Mandela Place and George Square.

Parking, waiting and loading will also be banned in George Square, High Street, Cathedral Square, Ingram Street and others from midnight to 7pm.

A spokesman for Glasgow City Council said: "In recent years, we have negotiated with the organisers to reduce its impact on the wider life of the city – with the event now comprised of fewer individual par-ades, covering a shorter part of the day."

The council will also take a decision today on whether to allow a march organised by The Black Skull Corps of Fifes and Drums.

The band have submitted a request to march from the East End to Glasgow Cathedral to mark the anniversary of the band's first engagement.

Black Skull march organiser William Faulds said: "We have held the parade annually since July 6, 2002 without any problems."

It is estimated the cost of policing the event will be more than £500,000.

ewan.fergus@ eveningtimes.co.uk

[AberdeenBud]

500k wasted on policing the pondlife. Shameful.

Only 4,500 members but tens of thousands of "supporters".

How exactly do you go about "supporting" the LOL?

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500k wasted on policing the pondlife. Shameful.

Only 4,500 members but tens of thousands of "supporters".

How exactly do you go about "supporting" the LOL?

It's a get out claus they've always used, any trouble at marches isn't the fault of the OO, it's the fault of the "hangers on" who follow them when they march.

I see they want to march from the East End, that can only be a GIRFUY to you know who

[itzdrk]

Moronic to say the least and something that is a clear BoTP, but I'm not convinced (but certainly still open to persuasion) that it's really any more noteworthy in the big scheme of things nowadays than equally moronic songs about zoophilia aimed at Aberdonians when all of the people singing it probably never go anywhere near a church and are motivated by dislike of Celtic rather than anything related to differing views over transubstantiation or something like that. Politicians, who exploit the lingering tribalism, pretend there's still a huge rigid polarisation of Scottish society like there was 50 or 60 years ago, but the reality is that Senga has been marrying Declan, and Siobhan has been marrying Derek in recent decades and there is a younger generation growing up now, who can often easily swing both ways on these things.

First ive heard of this

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Just remember a motto they use

"Where our music is not wanted, we will play it louder"

If that isn't attention seeking. I don't know what is

[LongTimeLurker]

No one's disputing that FoA is protected, but thanks for that anyway.

The ECHR does not commit GCC into letting a bunch of bigoted religious nutters take over the city centre.

If Yes campaigners are going to be allowed to meet there in large numbers it basically does, because picking and choosing what to allow rather than applying a blanket ban on health and safety grounds would be a form of discrimination that contravenes FoA. The irony is that it is the SNP and Holyrood that is championing the ECHR right now rather than the Tories and Westminster that very much want to axe it in a UK context, which would open the door to kneejerk populist legislation on this, but our flute playing friends will be of the opinion that they are celebrating the latter's defence of civil and religious freedoms.

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I can't believe you're comparing yes campaigners to the Orange Order.

If anything the OO are more alike with such organisations as the KKK, would be surprised if the council allowed them to promote hatred against fellow humans based solely on religion and skin colour.

It's freedom of speech right?

[doulikefish]

Stray nuke wouldnt go amiss in george square around noon on sat

[LongTimeLurker]

I can't believe you're comparing yes campaigners to the Orange Order....

The fact that you like one lot and intensely dislike the other has SFA to do with their rights to freedom of assembly.

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The fact that you like one lot and intensely dislike the other has SFA to do with their rights to freedom of assembly.

Is this you attempting to deflect from your ridiculous comment comparing the Yes campaign and the Orange Order?

[LongTimeLurker]

Is this you attempting to deflect from your ridiculous comment comparing the Yes campaign and the Orange Order?

You obviously didn't understand the comment I made. The exemption to FoA under the ECHR is valid health and safety type considerations. That has to apply to everybody in an even-handed sort of way without picking and choosing, who you like or don't like. If you insist on now repeating over and over again how much you dislike the Orange Order and view them as Scotland's answer to the KKK on you go. I'll only respond further to people, who actually address the point I am making about the manner in which it is actually possible to curtail this stuff when as the SNP very much want but the Tories don't, the ECHR is part of the legal system.