Union flag an abuse of power

Your editorial, ‘Why can’t we learn from history?’ prompts the suggestion that the writer revisits history and engages with opinion in the North before reaching for the empty cliché and worn stereotype.

For over 100 years, 365 days a year, the Union flag has flown over Belfast City Hall. Belfast is a shared city, a sizeable nationalist community has always contributed to financing the services of the council and building the city. However, the cultural and national alliances of nationalism have not been recognised and reflected in the council. At times nationalists have been excluded, repressed and discriminated against by that council.

History tells us that such abuse of power and inequality, if un-addressed, leads to conflict. Successful court challenges and hard won equality legislation have limited the excesses of unionism on the council, but continued flying of the flag of one community contradicts the ethos and understanding of existing equality legislation.