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Jamie Bryson quits union flag protests Jamie Bryson quits union flag protests
(about 2 hours later)
Jamie Bryson, one of the loyalists who helped to organise union flag protests at Belfast City Hall, has said he no longer supports the demonstrations.Jamie Bryson, one of the loyalists who helped to organise union flag protests at Belfast City Hall, has said he no longer supports the demonstrations.
He told BBC Radio Ulster's Talkback programme it was time to use politics rather than street protests to try to effect change.He told BBC Radio Ulster's Talkback programme it was time to use politics rather than street protests to try to effect change.
He once said the demonstrations should continue until the flag went back up over the building all year round.He once said the demonstrations should continue until the flag went back up over the building all year round.
He has now changed his mind and said political activism is the way forward.He has now changed his mind and said political activism is the way forward.
Q&A: Northern Ireland flag protestsQ&A: Northern Ireland flag protests
The union flag protests began in December 2012, after Belfast City Council voted to fly the union flag at Belfast City Hall on designated days, rather than its former policy of displaying it on every day of the year.The union flag protests began in December 2012, after Belfast City Council voted to fly the union flag at Belfast City Hall on designated days, rather than its former policy of displaying it on every day of the year.
Many unionists objected to the change and a series of street protests continued for more than a year.Many unionists objected to the change and a series of street protests continued for more than a year.
Some of the demonstrations ended in violence, multiple arrests and injuries to police officers.Some of the demonstrations ended in violence, multiple arrests and injuries to police officers.
'Selling out''Selling out'
Mr Bryson told Talkback said he was "very, very proud" of the flag protests and described them as a "release valve" for loyalist grievances.Mr Bryson told Talkback said he was "very, very proud" of the flag protests and described them as a "release valve" for loyalist grievances.
However, he said he now now believed "there has to be a pathway from protest to political action, to political change - there has to be a strategy". However, he said he now believed "there has to be a pathway from protest to political action, to political change - there has to be a strategy".
A number of callers to the programme accused Mr Bryson of "selling out" and betraying the flag protesters, but he said he was entitled to reconsider his position.A number of callers to the programme accused Mr Bryson of "selling out" and betraying the flag protesters, but he said he was entitled to reconsider his position.
He also accused the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) and the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) of exploiting the flag protests for electoral gain.He also accused the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) and the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) of exploiting the flag protests for electoral gain.
He claimed the two parties had tried to "wind people up" by jointly distributing 40,000 leaflets ahead of the council's flag vote in December 2012.He claimed the two parties had tried to "wind people up" by jointly distributing 40,000 leaflets ahead of the council's flag vote in December 2012.
Mr Bryson has also written a blog about his altered views on the Slugger O'Toole website, in which he said the absence of a political strategy during the height of the flag protests was a "huge missed opportunity".Mr Bryson has also written a blog about his altered views on the Slugger O'Toole website, in which he said the absence of a political strategy during the height of the flag protests was a "huge missed opportunity".
He added: "If no one ever stood up and said 'we need to change our tactics' then people would still be using swords and charging across battlefields on horseback during the Cold War."He added: "If no one ever stood up and said 'we need to change our tactics' then people would still be using swords and charging across battlefields on horseback during the Cold War."