Arrests after racist and sectarian chants during the Orange marches in Glasgow

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Police have made several arrests after racist and sectarian chants took place during Orange Order processions that closed the streets of Glasgow.

Thousands of people marched on downtown roads and in front of Catholic churches, sparking counter-demonstrations.

Members of Call It Out, a campaign group that opposes anti-Irish and anti-Catholic sectarianism, have held vigils in front of churches on the roads.

Up to 800 police officers were deployed to manage the event.

Chief Superintendent Mark Sutherland, the divisional commander of Greater Glasgow, said: We are aware that on several occasions today there have been outbreaks of racist and sectarian chanting by some of those attending the processions of the Orange Order, this is completely unacceptable and we completely condemn this behavior.

He said the police were seeking to take action against those who intended to harm and divide our communities and that several people had been arrested for various offenses.

Again, we see a number of people intending to offend and stir up hatred by singing unacceptable sectarian and racist songs. I want to again condemn this behavior in the strongest terms possible, said Superintendent Sutherland.

It is clear that bigotry remains a serious and ongoing problem in Scotland and while the police play an important role in tackling this type of behavior, it is a collective problem that must be addressed collectively and collaborative.

The Church of Scotland has condemned anti-Catholic bigotry and bigotry.

We have a very close working relationship with the Roman Catholic Church, he wrote on Twitter.

Over the years, we have worked together to fight bigotry and support each other.

Crowds lined the streets of the city center as the marches followed routes such as George Street and West George Street, and there was a heavy police presence in Glasgow Green where members of the parades gathered in the afternoon .

Glasgow City Council said 32 roads had been closed for processions until mid-afternoon.

In 2018, a Catholic priest was attacked outside the town’s St Alphonsus Church as an orange march marched.

Call It Out said its supporters gathered outside St Benedicts in Easterhouse and Blessed John Dun Scotus in the Gorbals as marches marched to say no to hatred through the streets of Glasgow.

Our determination is stronger than ever and those who are ready to support us are more and more numerous. No to anti-Catholic marches in front of Catholic churches No to institutional anti-Catholicism, he tweeted.

Additional reporting by the Press Association

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