Allister: PSNI bringing law itself into disrepute over ‘outrageous’ failure to act on mass George Floyd rally

The leader of the TUV has issued a fiercely-worded statement blasting the organisers of the rally in Belfast on Wednesday in protest at the death of George Floyd.
By The Newsroom
Published 5th Jun 2020, 10:52 BST
3/6/2020: Thousands of people took part in the rally in Belfast city centre today in protest about the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis, USA. PICTURE BY STEPHEN DAVISON3/6/2020: Thousands of people took part in the rally in Belfast city centre today in protest about the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis, USA. PICTURE BY STEPHEN DAVISON
3/6/2020: Thousands of people took part in the rally in Belfast city centre today in protest about the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis, USA. PICTURE BY STEPHEN DAVISON

Jim Allister accused the PSNI of having “no qualms” about taking action against such people as elderly dog-walkers, but then balking at the idea they should take action against the up to 2,000 people who broke social distancing rules at the Belfast rally.

He called the PSNI’s stance on the issue “outrageous”.

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here about the PSNI decision not to take action.

“Yes, protest is a fundamental right in any democratic society but so is the right for children to see grandparents.

“So is the right for young people in love to get married.

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“So is the right of Christians to attend their place of worship. So is the right of business owners to trade.

“So is the right to attend a funeral to say a final goodbye to a loved one.

“Yet all those fundamental rights have been suspended and to their credit the of people in Northern Ireland have made these painful sacrifices without complaint, accepting that they have to forgo those freedoms for the common good because of the pandemic.

“It was easy to issue an elderly gentleman with a fixed penalty ticket for coming to take his dog for a walk on the promenade in Portrush where social distancing was not an issue.

“The PSNI had no qualms about doing that.

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“But organise a protest with 2,000 people packed together in central Belfast and the police take no action.

“Republican funerals and politically-correct rallies are not and should not be seen to be exempt from these regulations.

“Such selectivity in the policing approach is bringing this law into disrepute.

“Today’s decision not to take action on the Belfast protest when set in such a context is outrageous.”

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