Russell Brand in surprise visit to loyalist protest camp
Russell Brand has visited a unionist protest camp in Belfast that has been staging daily demonstrations since an Orange parade ended in days of rioting this summer.
Comedian Russell Brand was in Belfast as part of his comedy tour but took time out to visit a loyalist protest camp and the Republican Ardoyne area.
The Twaddell protest camp has declared itself to be the new “face of loyalism” with supporters from across the spectrum of unionist political parties taking part in the peaceful initiative.
Brand is an unlikely visitor, having recently declared himself a left-wing revolutionary and joining a London protest last week which saw fireworks shot towards Buckingham palace.
No photographs allowed
Gerald Solinas is a spokesman for the protesters. He thought a prank was being played when he received a call from Brand saying he was at the camp.
“He was a very pleasant man, friendly and interested in the people around the camp,” he explained.
“Russell got to hear about what our loyalist culture is about and our protest for our right to finish a seven-minute walk home, along with other civil rights issues affecting the community.”
Brand was brought to the camp by Nobel Prize-winning peace activist Mairead Corrigan Maguire.
The protesters explained that the star’s minders wouldn’t allow anyone to take photographs of him at the camp, which is decked out with flags, a caravan and loyalist placards.
Nightly marches
Twaddell has seen peaceful nightly parades featuring Orange Order bands for more than 120 days in protest at a Parades Commission decision to restrict an annual Orange Order march along Crumlin Road on 12 July.
Protesters established a camp and are demanding an early morning return route through the disputed area but face opposition from community groups in the Ardoyne.
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The ruling came at a time when loyalists believed their culture was increasingly coming under attack, after months of protests over the flying of the Union Flag on government buildings had already disrupted the region.
“We welcome anyone to visit,” Mr Solinas added, “We will speak to anyone about our campaign of peaceful, passive resistance and civil disobedience.”
“This camp has come together to channel frustration and anger in a positive way, destroying your own community with riots won’t change things.”
Mr Solinas said their civil rights movement aims to remove the parades commission and have their parade route completed before the 2014 marching season begins.
Russell Brand is said to have visited the republican Ardoyne area after his trip to Twaddell, but it is not known if he met any community groups in the area.
US envoy Richard Haass is due back in Northern Ireland next week to continue talks over challenges to the peace process 15 years on.