Addressing the crowd outside City Hall in Belfast, Mr Peter Bunting, assistant general secretary of the ICTU, said: "Our purpose in being here today is to illustrate our revulsion at any form of bigotry or sectarianism which has led to murder, violence or acts of intimidation. We have suffered from these evil characteristics for more than three decades now.
"Therefore, we call on all those engaged in paramilitary activity to stop. In particular, we call on paramilitary organisations to disband now. The end of sectarianism combined with the dissolution of paramilitary organisations will allow all of us to pursue the goals of an equal, peaceful society linked to prosperity and jobs wherein dignity and respect are shown to all and shared by all, irrespective of political or religious differences."
Opening his address he said: "Fellow workers, political leaders, representatives of the main churches, employer representatives, friends. On behalf of the Northern Ireland Committee, Irish Congress of Trade Unions, I welcome you all here to this rally."
Mr Bunting continued: "It is imperative that we spell out the purpose of the rallies being held simultaneously across Northern Ireland today. That purpose is simple - violence doesn't work, sectarianism is evil, a theme which has the support of the vast majority of Northern Ireland citizens irrespective of political or religious affiliation. Today we demonstrate our revulsion and abhorrence of all murders in Northern Ireland over the past 32 years."
Mr Bunting said the rally did not specifically originate with the murder last Saturday of postal worker Daniel McColgan, but stemmed from many reasons.
"Arising from the murder of Gavin Brett and other murders during the past year, congress took a conscious decision to initiate a pro-active long-term strategy designed to combat sectarianism in our community centring on north Belfast."
It was necessary to emphasise that no one area of Northern Ireland had a monopoly on sectarianism. Sectarianism was deeply embedded in the culture of Northern Ireland and pervaded all political, religious and class sectors. Evidence of this, were it needed, that inter-communal relations has been regressing, was best illustrated in the recent academic study by Prof Peter Shirlow of the University of Ulster.
Conscious of the heightening sectarian nature of society and the deaths of so many young people recently, allied to the attacks on Catholic and Protestant school children and the designation of schools as legitimate targets for attack, Mr Bunting said the evil purveyors of bigotry had declared war on the young.
"While not wishing to confer legitimacy on those who have perpetrated the violence, congress nevertheless welcomes the withdrawal of recent threats of violence to workers."