Relatives of some of the 302 RUC officers killed in the Troubles, and unionist politicians, held a service in the grounds of Stormont to commemorate the force's dead and voice their opposition to the Patten report.
The DUP leader, the Rev Ian Paisley, led about 80 people as they slowly walked from the Carson Monument up to the lawn in front of Parliament Buildings where they placed small white crosses with poppies attached, representing RUC members who lost their lives over the past 30 years.
After a religious service, which he conducted, Mr Paisley said his and other anti-agreement parties had drawn up a plan of action to stop the Patten recommendations from being implemented.
He said there was deep opposition to the proposals, particularly those regarding a change of the name and badge for the RUC. "We are totally dedicated to the destruction of this report. If this report is not destroyed, the RUC will be destroyed," Mr Paisley said.
"Let's make no bones about it, the axe has been laid to the RUC reserves - that's the first part of it - just as they destroyed the B Specials and the Ulster Defence Regiment. Now the full-time reserve will go," he said.
Before the service, a spokesman for Families Acting for Innocent Relatives, Mr Willie Fraser, said there was considerable anger and disbelief among families of RUC officers at the Patten recommendations.
The leader of the UK Unionist Party, Mr Robert McCartney, said while a reform of the RUC was necessary it could not occur as long as the threat of violence existed.
"Nobody disputes that the RUC should undergo change. Any institution must undergo change to keep up with the times and keep in touch with the community. But what we are being asked to do under Patten is to accept the reform of policing in the province while the IRA remains intact and when no decommissioning has taken place," Mr McCartney said.
Ms Pearl Marshall, whose 25-year-old son, Michael, an RUC officer, was killed 10 years ago, described the ceremony as "very emotional". She said while she still had her memories, she felt very distressed by the proposal to change the force's symbols.