Members of the Apprentice Boys of Derry in Co Armagh are threatening a stand-off following a Parades Commission ruling which bars them from parading along William Street, Lurgan, on Saturday evening.
Apprentice Boys in Lurgan have also said they will not accept the commission's decision to curtail the route of the morning parade through the Co Armagh town.
They say they are being denied "our right to walk our traditional route in a parade which has taken place for 113 years without trouble".
Mr Roy Ferguson, spokesman for the Lurgan Apprentice Boys Clubs, said yesterday that the Parades Commission decision was, "nothing more than an attempt to ethnically cleanse north Lurgan of the Protestant tradition and culture".
He said there was no evidence of complaints by any resident or business people in the immediate area, which made the commission decision "even more unpalatable".
"The Apprentice Boys of Derry in Lurgan have already pressed for a meeting with the residents of the area to discuss the situation. That was refused," said Mr Ferguson. "Residents groups are continually calling for dialogue, yet when an offer is made to do so, they refuse to take part."
William Street has always been part of the "traditional route" marched by local members.
However, this year the route has been deemed to be particularly sensitive because it houses the offices of murdered solicitor, Ms Rosemary Nelson.
Despite this, the Apprentice Boys say they will protest should the Parades Commission decision not to allow them to return to Lurgan via William Street be enforced by the RUC.
"This is a small parade which is always passed off with dignity and respect," said Mr Ferguson "Should we prevented from parading the full route, then a standoff will develop.
"We have already announced that a protest will take place in Lurgan at 7 p.m. on Saturday night against this undemocratic decision. The onus is now on the RUC to protect the marchers as they do so."