The Union Flag flying atop Belfast City Hall in 2006
Date
3 December 2012 – December 2013
Location
Northern Ireland
Caused by
Belfast City Council voting to limit the days that the Union Flag flies from City Hall[1]
Methods
Street protests, riots
Status
Minor sporadic protests where issue is sporadically part of the protest causes
Parties
Police Service of Northern Ireland
Ulster loyalists (including members of the Ulster Volunteer Force and Ulster Defence Association) and British nationalists
Lead figures
David Ford (Justice Minister) Gavin Robinson (Lord Mayor of Belfast)
Willie Frazer Jamie Bryson Jim Allister
Casualties and losses
157 police officers injured[2][3][4]
560 charged[5]
On 3 December 2012, Belfast City Council voted to limit the days that the Union Flag (the flag of the United Kingdom) flies from Belfast City Hall.[6] Since 1906, the flag had been flown every day of the year.[6] This was reduced to 18 specific days a year, the minimum requirement for UK government buildings.[7] The move to limit the number of days was backed by the council's Irish nationalists while the Alliance Party abstained from the vote; it was opposed by the unionist councillors.
As a response, Ulster loyalists and British nationalists held street protests throughout Northern Ireland. They saw the council's decision as part of a wider 'cultural war' against 'Britishness' in Northern Ireland.[8][9] On the night of the vote, protesters tried to storm City Hall. Throughout December and January, protests were held almost daily and most involved the protesters blocking roads while carrying Union Flags and banners. Some of these protests led to clashes between loyalists and the police, sparking riots. Rioters attacked police with petrol bombs, bricks, stones and fireworks; police responded with plastic bullets and water cannon. Alliance Party offices and the homes of Alliance Party members were attacked, while Belfast City Councillors were sent death threats. According to police, some of the violence was orchestrated by high-ranking members of the Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF) and Ulster Defence Association (UDA).[10] Loyalists also put up thousands of Union flags in public places, which further heightened tension.[6]
After February 2013, the protests have been smaller and less frequent, and have led to greater loyalist protests about related issues, such as restrictions on traditional loyalist marches.[8]
^Taggart, Peter (6 January 2013). "Violent demonstrations injure dozens of police in Northern Ireland". CNN. Retrieved 6 January 2013.
^"Baggott calls for review of parade law". News Letter. JPI Media. 26 February 2013. Retrieved 25 December 2014.
^"Police injured during loyalist protest march in Belfast". BBC News. 30 November 2013.
^"Lord Mayor attacked by loyalists at Woodvale Park re-opening". Belfast Telegraph. 7 August 2013. Retrieved 25 December 2014.
^"PSNI say 560 charged or reported over flag protests". BBC News. 18 November 2013.
^ abcA background note on the protests and violence related to the Union Flag at Belfast City Hall Conflict Archive on the Internet (CAIN), 8 February 2013
^"Designated days for Union Flag flying". UK Government. 27 February 2013. Retrieved 25 December 2014.
^ ab"Northern Ireland Orange Order leaders warn of cultural war" BBC News. 12 July 2013
^"Belfast: 'It's not just the flag. They want to take everything British away'" The Observer, 12 January 2013
^"Loyalist paramilitaries 'behind some Northern Ireland trouble'" BBC News, 8 December 2012
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