Standoff in Portadown: Protesters Block Orange Order’s First Drumcree Parade in 28 Years
A tense standoff erupted in Portadown, Northern Ireland, as thousands of protesters blocked the route of the Orange Order’s first parade down Garvaghy Road in 28 years. The march, authorized by the Parades Commission and upheld by courts, was halted by a crowd led by Sinn Féin leaders, while unionist politicians demanded the rule of law be upheld. Police reinforcements were deployed to manage the volatile situation.