Major figures from music and film, including Noel Gallagher, Johnny Marr, Paul Weller, and Susan Sarandon, have signed an open letter in support of residents on Garvaghy Road, Portadown, County Armagh.
The letter addresses Northern Ireland Secretary Sir Chris Bryant, calling for peace and the appointment of an “independent international mediator from outside Ireland and Britain” to help resolve the ongoing dispute.
The area is currently experiencing its 11th day of a tense deadlock. This follows a High Court decision to allow the unionist Orange Order parade to march through the predominantly nationalist area. If the parade proceeds, it would be the first time since 1998, as the Parades Commission had previously blocked the route for 28 years due to a history of severe violence.
The new decision permits the route to be taken with a limit of 35 Orange Order members participating, and a start time of 8am instead of 1pm. Residents have spoken out against this decision, with First Minister Michelle O’Neill also pushing for reconsideration, claiming it has caused residents “no sleep in fear and anxiety”.