I walked in Portadown last night for a number of reasons. I speak only for myself. 1) To stand with my brothers, and the sisters from the many women’s lodges who joined us. 2) To stand for the rule of law. The decision to submit an 11/1 and follow the rules, despite our disagreement, was the correct one. I commend the organisers for that decision. 3) To show that while unionism may argue and bicker, when it matters we will stand together in unity. I’ve never experienced anything like last night. Unbeknownst to me, I was walking beside my father’s cousin. My father is no longer with us, and realising I was on parade with my actual family brought very strong feelings. This is a tradition that runs through generations of families. When I hear Mary Lou McDonald allow our culture to be degraded to “orange bastards,” I truly despair. It is not without its problems. Nothing in this world is perfect, and there is hard work being done by good people. The abuse of our culture, a culture passed down through generations, has gone on for far too long. Dehumanise us all you want. We will not lose our humanity. I want to commend the chaplain for his prayer on the night. That is who we are, and we must never forget his words.