Protests were called in response to Belfast City Council voting to fly the Palestinian flag after a delayed effort to fly it to coincide with the International Day of Solidarity. After being told an emergency high court session was arranged to block it, the court scheduled the hearing for the following day, leaving it within the council's remit to raise the flag at midnight.
Protesters gathered at the back gate of city hall to shout abuse at departing councillors (the original plan was to block their exit) and play anti-Palestinian music off speakers. They joined others at the front to watch the flag go up at midnight and shout "shame" while those supporting the flag being raised cheered from across the road.
Protesters gathered at the back gate of city hall to shout abuse at departing councillors (the original plan was to block their exit) and play anti-Palestinian music off speakers. They joined others at the front to watch the flag go up at midnight and shout "shame" while those supporting the flag being raised cheered from across the road.
The following day protesters gathered outside the courts in Belfast awaiting the result of the emergency effort to block the flag flying. The court rejected the request to block it and the flag remained up until around 16:30 before being taken down.
Later that night a larger crowd of protesters gathered outside city hall which remained largely quiet as no speakers had been arranged.
Young members of the "Red Fanatics" moved towards city hall chanting "Free Free Palestine" prompting some flag protesters to charge across the road and a skirmish to ensue along Donegall Place with PSNI moving to separate the two groups. The protest stayed for some time anticipating a repeat of the earlier confrontation before dispersing around 9pm.
Later that night a larger crowd of protesters gathered outside city hall which remained largely quiet as no speakers had been arranged.
Young members of the "Red Fanatics" moved towards city hall chanting "Free Free Palestine" prompting some flag protesters to charge across the road and a skirmish to ensue along Donegall Place with PSNI moving to separate the two groups. The protest stayed for some time anticipating a repeat of the earlier confrontation before dispersing around 9pm.
