Orange Arch Erected In Glengormley

Statement from Belfast 32CSM.

Yesterday, Tuesday 14th June, a highly controversial “orange arch” was erected in Glengormley against the wishes of the majority of residents in the area.

SinnFein had the opportunity to deny this display of sectarian bigotry being erected but instead gave the go ahead for it.

The PSNI blocked roads refusing access to residents and causing traffic disruption in order to facilitate loyalist paramilitaries bringing in heavy lifting equipment. This adds to the current belief of collusion between the PSNI and loyalist paramilitaries, particularly after reports this week that the assistant chief constable Bobby Singleton knew about the guns and ammunition found in the possession of north Belfast UVF leader Winston ‘winkie’ Irvine when he was arrested last week.

For years local residents have campaigned against this sectarian display and for years their plea's have fallen on deaf ears, again to placate loyalist paramilitaries operating in the area.

Speaking with some residents last night they all mentioned that there was an air of tension this year that hasn’t been felt in a long time especially after recent threats of violence by loyalist paramilitaries and politicians.

We will continue to liaise with locals and offer any help we can. We would also advise everyone living in the area to remain vigilant and be safe.

Tensions Rising In Belfast

Statement from Belfast WolfeTone/McCracken cumann 32CSM.

Homes and businesses in the Oldpark area of North Belfast have been attacked yet again this evening by loyalists throwing bricks, bottles and timber, taxi’s leaving Ardoyne have also been attacked. A PSNI helicopter is now circling low over Ardoyne and has been for time, instead of circling loyalist area’s to find those responsible for the trouble.

Over the past week or two loyalists have been heightening sectarian tensions around north Belfast with union flags being erected directly beside nationalist homes in Ardoyne and on the predominantly nationalist Cavehill Road.

Coming into the loyalist marching season tensions are already high with nationalist area’s expecting to be sealed off and swamped with heavily armed British crown forces to facilitate the sectarian marches.

Adding to the tensions are recent statements from loyalist politicians and paramilitaries of a ‘return to war’ and sectarian attacks if the current trade protocol isn’t scrapped and a hard border put on the Island of Ireland.

We will be monitoring the situation through the night and over the coming days and would advise everyone living in flashpoint area to remain alert.

MAC Facilitating Landlord Venture

From Belfast 32CSM:

A few months back Belfast 32CSM began highlighting a monthly event held in the MAC theatre. This event called ‘Belfast Property Meet’ organised by an ex merchant navy officer and his wife, is designed to show landlords and property investors how to expand their portfolio’s and maximise their profits off the backs of working class renters. We contacted the MAC theatre on April 20th asking them to stop facilitating this event. On May 4th we received a disappointing but not surprising reply from the MAC chief executive Anne McReynolds. In her reply she stated “The MAC is a cultural venue and a community resource which has been created with significant public funds generated by taxes paid by the citizens”. She further went on to explain that the MAC is a warm and welcoming place for all.

Anne finished her email saying that the MAC would continue to hire it’s facilities to Belfast Property Meet and whoever else they deem fit. What this means essentially is that the MAC will allow it’s supposed community hub to be used for events detrimental to working class society so long as it’s profitable to do so. This is highly unfortunate as the building has so much potential to play a pivotal role in combating corporate greed. After we publicly advertised to protest at one of these events back in January, Belfast Property Meet cancelled the MAC venue just hours before the start time. Again when we contacted the MAC directly about another Property Meet event planned for last Thursday 7th May, the venue was again cancelled. We will continue monitoring and highlighting this issue further and if another one of these capit

alist anti community events is organised at the MAC we will be calling for a protest. We would encourage all Republican, socialist, housing and community groups to join that protest and give a maximum show of solidarity to our working class communities.

Below is the email response we received.