Many  times every year, families need to abandon their  homes for the day. They must do this due to the hostile atmosphere that overtakes their town when an Orange walk – a hate fest designed to intimidate people of religious belief and spread division and sectarianism - takes place. This week it is Gourock turn to suffer this injustice

What deepens our distress is the position of our provost, who supports this practice, despite the hurt it causes many of his constituents. His views are not in alignment with ours, and we believe they negatively impact the unity and harmony of our town.

Gourock  is our home, a place rich with tradition and diversity that we are rightly proud of. However, is it right that any event should make residents feel threatened, scared or unwelcome in their own town?

A local authority has a primary responsibility to ensure the wellbeing of the individuals it serves – to foster a sense of safety, unity, and community spirit. That is, after all, the role our Provost signed up for. Yet, his views on the Orange walk contradict this responsibility and make it more challenging for the community to maintain peace and unity.

We believe it is not enough for a public official to serve the interests of only a section of the population. Rather, our Provost should respect the views and feelings of all constituents. And to partake in this divisive event and further deepen the existing schism does not seem like a fitting move for someone in such a position.

Thus, based on his views and actions regarding the Orange walk, we believe it best for our community and our sense of safety if our Provost were to step down from his position.

Please, sign this petition to show our protest and discomfort towards the actions taken concerning the Orange walk and to request the resignation of our Provost. Let your voice be heard.