Union Jack Makes Unlikely Appearance in Seattle Irish Parade

As unlikely a place as Seattle is for North/South Irish violence, the city's St. Patrick's Day parade yesterday was host to some tensions related to that conflict. What the Seattle Times describes as a "dignitary from the British territory of Northern Ireland" felt it was appropriate to raise the British Union Jack and march with it for the duration of the parade from his honored position at the front of the procession.

The Seattle Times made this comparison:

To Irish Americans who object to the British rule of Northern Ireland, carrying that flag was considered the equivalent of "waving the Confederate flag at a Martin Luther King march," several Irish American community groups said yesterday.

The flag bearer was Lisburn Mayor Cecil Calvert who claims, "it was important to demonstrate his British roots." Last year's St. Patrick's Day parade in Seattle also featured the mayor of Lisburn, although that was Billie Bell. The Irish Heritage Club of Seattle invited Calvert.

During the parade the Lisburn mayor was taunted and several objects were hurled at him from parade onlookers. One woman attempted to knock the flag from his hands.