Letter: Attacks on the minority Protestant and unionist community in the north west area must end
A letter from Stevan Patterson:
In less than two weeks the war memorial in Strabane, County Tyrone was subject to three separate sectarian and fascist republican attacks.
On the first two occasions the memorial was desecrated in hate crimes by being painted over with sectarian and racist slogans. On the third occasion, the five wreaths at the Cenotaph were stolen.
The theft was noticed on Friday, May 8, the 81st anniversary of VE Day. Most likely the wreaths will later end up on a republican bonfire to the shouts of “up the Ra”.
Constant attacks like this and on the minority Protestant and unionist community in the north west area, for example in Londonderry, must end.
Attacks are spreading apprehension and fear and people are worried about how the PSNI can protect the community when they can't ensure a war memorial is protected.
This is all the more serious when the war memorial is just across the street from the high security court house.
It’s now time for the PSNI to be more robust and proactive to tackle and stamp out the problem, bringing those responsible to the full force of the law.
The formal media, social media and education sector also have major roles to play. The constant rewriting of history is sadly radicalising the young from, in particular, the nationalist community, who believe it is somehow justified. Foolishly believing there was and indeed still is no alternative needs to be called out.
Hero worship of terrorists by statues and shrines for the unspeakable acts of murder and ethnic cleansing was and always will be wrong.
The war memorial in Strabane honours all who served in the area, from both communities, in the First and Second World Wars to bring the freedoms we all enjoy today.
It and the wreaths are symbols of respect, healing and recognition, not hate and division.
Stevan Patterson, Castlederg