Thousands of people today stood in silent defiance of sectarianism at a peace rally in Belfast today.
The Belfast Lord Mayor, Sinn Féin's Mr Alec Maskey, launched the rally telling paramilitaries: "Homes are being wrecked and people are being killed. Stop now."
Backed by trade unions, church leaders and nearly all the political parties, Mr Maskey, Belfast's first Sinn Féin lord mayor, had called the huge demonstration after Catholic teenager Gerard Lawlor was gunned down by the Ulster Freedom Fighters two weeks ago.
Gripped by a sense of revulsion at the ongoing murder campaign, several thousand heeded his call and took to the street outside City Hall.
They heard Mr Bob Gourley, the Irish Congress of Trade Unions Northern Ireland Committee chairman spell out a startling message.
He said: "The evil purveyors of bigotry have declared war on us all and wished to ensure that the legacy of hatred continued."
Only the hard-line DUP boycotted today's rally, accusing Mr Maskey of hypocrisy because of allegations the Provisional IRA is still active.
Mr Maskey shrugged off their attack and insisted the mass gathering could make a difference. He told the crowd: "Please consider this rally today as the formal public launch of our anti-sectarian campaign."
The public show of opposition had been intensified after construction worker Mr David Caldwell was killed in a suspected "Real IRA" bomb attack on a Derry territorial army camp yesterday.
Business leaders said everyone had to do all in their power to create a more tolerant and respectful society.
Mr Nigel Smyth, the director of the Confederation of British Industry, told those gathered at Belfast City Hall that everyone has a right to live free from intimidation and violence.
"The business community continues to be appalled at recent events on the streets of Belfast," he said.
"Street violence, blatant sectarianism and the recent murders are to be utterly condemned."
The four main churches were represented at the rally. The Reverend Alan Harper, the Church of Ireland Bishop of Connor, spoke on behalf of all the church leaders present.
He said: "We represent our four churches. We stand together to challenge hatred, bigotry and sectarianism.
"We stand for respect for diversity, respect for freedom of conscience, the right to live free of fear and threat.
"We will work together for harmony in our community, peace on our streets and justice and fairness for all people and we do so in the name of the one God whom we all worship."
The crowd was then led in prayer and psalms by Dr Patrick Walsh the Catholic Bishop of Down and Connor, Reverend David Kerr representing the Belfast Mission of the Methodist Church and Reverend Kerry McMullan of the Belfast Synod of the Presbyterian Church.
Progressive Unionist Party leader David Ervine described the rally as a "small but necessary step". "It publicly signals that there is something happening and I think in the minds of politicians, church people, business people, trade unionists who will form a group looking in to our future."
Mr Mark Durkan, leader of the SDLP, expressed hope that the rally showed victims and their families that all sections of the community supported them.
Mr Durkan, Northern Ireland's Deputy First Minister, added: "I also hope it sends out a message to those who continue to prosecute violence that they may be able to hurt us but they will never divide us."
PA