[Congressional Bills 105th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 182 Introduced in House (IH)]







105th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 182

Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives regarding marches 
                          in Northern Ireland.


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                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                              July 9, 1997

 Mr. Kennedy of Massachusetts (for himself, Mr. King, Mr. Manton, Mrs. 
   McCarthy of New York, Mr. McGovern, Mr. Menendez, and Mr. Gilman) 
submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee 
                       on International Relations

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives regarding marches 
                          in Northern Ireland.

Whereas it is in the interest of the Republic of Ireland, the United Kingdom, 
        and the United States to bring an end to the strife in Northern Ireland;
Whereas the majority of the citizens of Northern Ireland, Catholic and 
        Protestant, want an end to violence in the region;
Whereas the British Government's decision in 1996 to allow the Orange Order to 
        march along a disputed stretch of the Garvaghy Road resulted in the 
        worst rioting in Northern Ireland's history;
Whereas the British Government's decision to allow such a march on July 6, 1997, 
        resulted in a repeat of the violence of 1996 on the Garvaghy Road;
Whereas the British Government continues to use plastic bullets against 
        civilians;
Whereas the right of citizens to assemble peacefully is an important part of a 
        pluralistic democracy;
Whereas the majority of marches conducted by the Orange Order are designed to 
        provoke conflict and heighten tensions among Protestant and Catholic 
        citizens; and
Whereas such marches only serve to undermine efforts to secure a lasting peace 
        in Northern Ireland: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That it is the sense of the House of Representatives that 
the British Government should prohibit any march by any group through 
any neighborhood or community in Northern Ireland in which residents 
have clearly stated their opposition to the march.
                                 <all>