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| Belfast peace marchers rally over union flag violence | Belfast peace marchers rally over union flag violence |
| (4 months later) | |
| Peace campaigners in Belfast have staged a second rally in as many days to demonstrate opposition to the recent unrest. Up to 1,000 people took part in a cross-community "peace gathering" in the city centre. The hour-long event at the gates of the city hall concluded with a two-minute "no silence" where participants whistled, shouted, clapped and played musical instruments. | Peace campaigners in Belfast have staged a second rally in as many days to demonstrate opposition to the recent unrest. Up to 1,000 people took part in a cross-community "peace gathering" in the city centre. The hour-long event at the gates of the city hall concluded with a two-minute "no silence" where participants whistled, shouted, clapped and played musical instruments. |
| Organiser Paul Currie, an artist from Newtownabbey, Co Antrim, said: "The peaceful silent majority need to be heard too." | Organiser Paul Currie, an artist from Newtownabbey, Co Antrim, said: "The peaceful silent majority need to be heard too." |
| Violence has erupted across Northern Ireland after Belfast city councillors voted to limit the number of days the union flag is flown. Loyalists are opposed to any restrictions and have blocked roads and rioted over the issue. | Violence has erupted across Northern Ireland after Belfast city councillors voted to limit the number of days the union flag is flown. Loyalists are opposed to any restrictions and have blocked roads and rioted over the issue. |
| The peace gathering was promoted through social networking sites and had obtained permission from the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI). It finished by 12 noon so city centre shopping would not be disrupted. | The peace gathering was promoted through social networking sites and had obtained permission from the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI). It finished by 12 noon so city centre shopping would not be disrupted. |
| Currie said: "This was a call for legal gathering of the people of Northern Ireland to show our neighbours and the world once and for all that we are not about two communities at war, but that Northern Ireland has moved on. Northern Ireland is about many nationalities and religions, colours and creeds living peacefully together. This is not about a flag, it is about peace and freedom." | Currie said: "This was a call for legal gathering of the people of Northern Ireland to show our neighbours and the world once and for all that we are not about two communities at war, but that Northern Ireland has moved on. Northern Ireland is about many nationalities and religions, colours and creeds living peacefully together. This is not about a flag, it is about peace and freedom." |
| Participants of all ages waved banners and played drums but were told not to bring any flags. | Participants of all ages waved banners and played drums but were told not to bring any flags. |
| Katie Blue from Belfast said: "We are here to stand up for peace. People from both traditions are disgusted by the violence and just want a peaceful future." | Katie Blue from Belfast said: "We are here to stand up for peace. People from both traditions are disgusted by the violence and just want a peaceful future." |
| A number of councillors from the nationalist SDLP and the nonsectarian Alliance party were also at the event. | A number of councillors from the nationalist SDLP and the nonsectarian Alliance party were also at the event. |
| Maura Duran from Belfast said: "The image of Belfast that has gone out recently has been very negative – we just wanted to do something positive." | Maura Duran from Belfast said: "The image of Belfast that has gone out recently has been very negative – we just wanted to do something positive." |
| On Saturday about 200 people linked arms to form a human chain around Belfast City Hall and prayed for five minutes during the vigil. | On Saturday about 200 people linked arms to form a human chain around Belfast City Hall and prayed for five minutes during the vigil. |
| Almost 30 PSNI officers have been injured in disturbances this month. More than 40 people have been arrested for public order offences. | Almost 30 PSNI officers have been injured in disturbances this month. More than 40 people have been arrested for public order offences. |
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