Violent protests across the North and attacks on the RUC should be stopped, the tens of thousands assembled for the July 12th demonstration in Belfast's Ormeau Park were told yesterday afternoon.
Belfast City Councillor and senior Orangeman Mr Jim Rodgers was heckled as he made a plea to the demonstrators to halt the violent protests spawned by the Drumcree stand-off.
The heckling began when Mr Rodgers, an opponent of the Belfast Agreement, called for the violence to end. Some members of the crowd, not thought to have been wearing collarettes, drowned out Mr Rodgers and shouted words of support for the Portadown Orangemen.
Leading American Orangeman Mr Fred Stewart told the crowd that loyalty was a cornerstone for Orangemen and women and that it came in many forms.
"I, as an American, understand loyalty to my country as represented by our flag to which we pledge allegiance. In Northern Ireland, your loyalty, as it should be and has always been, is to your Sovereign," he said.
Also at the commemorations for the Battle of the Boyne were four members of the Grand Orange Lodge of Ghana. The Grandmaster of the Lodge, Mr Cephes Yao Tay, said he saw no reason why the lower Ormeau Road should be blocked to marchers but said he hoped there would be more understanding between Orangemen and Catholics in the future.
"I would like them to be together . . . in the long run we are all worshipping one God, our heavenly father; Catholics are using the same bible and Christ is our only mediator. "Why should we be fighting? We should all come together as brothers and sisters and worship the Almighty," he said.
Commenting later on the negative response to his speech, Mr Rodgers said the incident was one that often happens on the 12th of July.
"It is important that I have been attacked verbally and not physically, as things are happening across Northern Ireland at the moment," he said. He added that his support for the Orange Order was not fading with the continued Drumcree controversy.
"I have heard in some media reports that people are trying to tell us that members are going. If you look around here today and look at the turnout, it is just as big as it ever was, if not bigger," he said.