Springfield residents form action group
Residents of the Springfield Road in Belfast are set to oppose
unwanted Orange marches that go through their predominatly
nationalist neighbourhood each year.
The Springfield Road Action Group say they oppose the annual
invasion of their local neighbourhood by Orange marchers
accompanied by the attendent curfew enforced by the RUC and
British Army. This comes after a survey found that 98% of
residents felt intimidated by the march and the swamping of the
area by Crown Forces. The survey which covered 1230 households
overwhelmingly called for a re-routing of the Orange marches.
Spokesperson for the Action Group, Frances McAuley said no
response had yet been recieved from the two letters they had sent
to the Orange Lodge to initiate dialogue. She told An Phoblacht
that the demographics of the area had changed and alternative
routes could easily avoid disturbing nationalists.
The marches occur on the last Saturday in June and twice on the
Twelfth of July. Last year saw the senseless beating of Kevin
Docherty in his own home by the RUC. In 1995 peaceful
demonstrators involved in a sit-down protest were
indescrininately beaten off the road.
In asking for support McAuley pointed out that this is the only
Orange march in West Belfast. The Springfield Residents Action
Group will be holding a Grand Charity Night on Friday 21 November
at the Felons Club. Gerard Rice from the Lower Ormeau Road and
Joe Duffy from the Garvaghy Road will speak.
![[An Phoblacht]](http://republican-news.org/graphics/title_gifs/aprn.gif)