Support the Dumbarton Royal Black Preceptory Parade

This is a petition in support of the Royal Black Preceptory parade due to be held in Dumbarton on the 8th August 2009.

The Local Council are proposing to hold a meeting on the 4th August 2009 to discuss the approval of the parade despite permission being first sought in September 2008.

The Royal Black Preceptory is not just an organisation in the UK but spreads worldwide including Australia, New Zealand, West Africa and North America which makes it an organisation that embraces many cultures over many continents.

The Black Preceptory is a proudly and unashamedly Protestant organisation.

RBP parades are led by the Union Flag and the Saltire, the two flags of Scotland. Also carried at the front of every RBP parade is an open bible topped by the crown. These symbols demonstrate allegiance to God, Crown and Country.

To ban the parade would be contrary to the rights of thought, conscience, religion and public assembly.

We note that campaign to ban the parade is being co-ordinated by the deeply sinister and sectarian bigots of the Republican Sinn Fein organisation which has a branch operating in the town.

We note that the Republican Sinn Fein organisation wishes to return Northern Ireland to the sectarian bloodshed of the last 30 years contrary to the wishes of the vast majority of its people.

We further note that those behind the campaign to ban the parade recently attacked the Armed Forces Day in Glasgow where our war veterans were being honoured by the Secretary of State for Scotland for their part in the defeat of fascism.

In summation, we call on all people of good will to support the democratic rights of the Royal Black Preceptory to parade under the supervision of the police and to face down the bigoted campaign to ban it orchestrated by those with a sinister sectarian agenda.