Exhibit 11: Sinn Féin Leadership speaks out against the Orange Order (2013)
“The [Nationalist] community is being terrorized”
– Martin McGuinness, leader of Sinn Féin
The above video portrays Sinn Féin leadership challenging the Orange Order’s handling of parade-related disputes and violence.1 Gerry Kelly blames the Orange Order for their lack of leadership and their role in inciting violence during parades that are already contentious. Kelly argues the Orange Order had the opportunity to ease tension and avoid violence but instead chose to rally their supporters onto the streets, worsening the situation. He says that the Orange Order should have done more to promote peace and community cohesion, as they pledged to do in their discussions before the parade. Their failure to do so resulted in violence, damage, and a violation of trust between the two groups.
Kelly also defends the intentions of the Parade Commission, stating that the violence was avoidable, while the Orange Order believes that violent acts are a direct result of the commission. The Orange Order and other Unionist groups pushed the narrative of violence and unrest. Kelly stresses the importance of Orange Order leaders promoting peaceful protest rather than senseless violence because it allows for a more constructive understanding of the culture surrounding the Orange Marches. He highlights the continual and persistent damage caused by contentious parades to community relations. The Orange Order’s parades are disruptive; he claims and argues that communities should be able to live their lives without the annual disruption and conflict associated with them. There are recommendations for changing how the parades work and are formatted, such as creating smaller routes that either partially or wholly avoid Catholic neighborhoods.
Martin McGuinness joins the interview, stating that he believes the Orange Order’s culture isn’t under attack. He cites an example in which Orange Marches were conducted peacefully in Derry City due to the negotiations established by the Parade Commission agreement.2 He accuses the leadership of the Orange Order of exacerbating the violence and failing to represent the intentions of their communities. He cites the suspension of their protest as an admission to their guilt from the violence from the previous night, praising Sinn Féin leadership for their efforts to avoid further escalation of the conflict. He calls for a similar leadership style from both Unionists and Loyalists to continue down the path of peace in Northern Ireland.
Footnotes
- Sinn Féin. 2013. “Sinn Féin Leaders Challenge Orange Order. “YouTube. Retrieved May 30, 2023 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nfQUYn6Un4s
- Parades Commission NI Framework Document. 2019. Northern Ireland Parades Commission. 1 May https://www.paradescommission.org/Publications/Parades-Commission-NI-Framework-Document.aspx
