Belfast rally against sectarianism

national | miscellaneous | news report Saturday August 03, 2002 08:39 by McMean

Thousands of people turned out for an anti-sectarianism rally at Belfast city hall.

The demonstration was called following the sectarian murder of
north Belfast teenager Gerard Lawlor last week. The 19-year-old
Catholic was shot dead by the UDA as he walked home after a night
out.

Backed by trade unions, church leaders and nearly all the
political parties, Mr Maskey, Belfast's first Sinn Fein Mayor,
had called the huge demonstration after Catholic teenager Gerard
Lawlor was gunned down by the loyalist UDA two weeks ago.

Several thousand heeded the call and took to the street outside
City Hall. Only the hard-line Democratic Unionists boycotted
today's rally.

The Sinn Fein Lord Mayor told the crowd it could make a
difference.

After launching the anti-sectarian rally with a period of silence
for the recent victims of the violence, he said: "Homes are being
wrecked and people are being killed. Stop now"

"Please consider this rally today as the formal public launch of
our anti-sectarian campaign."

The crowd also heard Bob Gourley of the Irish Congress of Trade
Unions spell out a startling message.

He said: "The evil purveyors of bigotry have declared war on us
all and wished to ensure that the legacy of hatred continued."

"To each and every one of you in attendance here today,
sectarianism kills all of us and we must all fight against
sectarianism at every opportunity in our workplaces, societies,
clubs, as well as in our immediate and extended families."

Marie McColgan, mother of Catholic postman Daniel McColgan who
was shot dead by loyalists earlier this year, was among those
present.

After the rally Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams called on people
to unite against sectarianism.

"Today's rally sends out a clear statement that ordinary people
in Belfast want their political and civic leaders to unite
against the scourge of sectarianism," the West Belfast MP said.

"Sectarian violence is the biggest threat to the peace process at
this time.

"I commend the Mayor of Belfast, the City Council, the churches,
[business leaders] and trades unions for organising today's
rally."


* Healthcare workers held a one-day stoppage on Thursday after
loyalist paramilitaries posted a bullet to one of their number.
More than 400 healthcare employees took part in their own rally
against sectarian threats at Transport House in Belfast
yesterday.


* Meanwhile, a church in north Belfast has been badly damaged in
an arson attack overnight.

The fire at the Whitehouse Presbyterian Church on the Shore Road
began at around 4 am. An adjoining garage was also alight.

Fire services were called and the fire was put out within half an
hour. However, the church was completely gutted and the garage
was badly damaged. At least six lorries were destroyed.