OVER 50,000 people have signed a petition in under 48 hours to ban the Orange Walk in Glasgow.

It cames as Police Scotland appealled to members of an Orange Walk for witnesses to an attack on a Catholic priest as the parade passed his church on Saturday.

READ MORE: Pressure grows on Orange Order following attack on priest

Canon Tom White had been speaking to parishioners outside St Alphonsus Church, in the Barras area of the city, when he was spat on twice before being lunged at by a man with a baton.

The Archdiocese of Glasgow said both Canon White and his parishioners had been “subjected to vile abuse” and Police Scotland is now investigating the incident as a hate crime.

The change.org petition states: “Police are investigating after claims a priest was assaulted during an Orange Walk.

“The above report came from a Catholic Church in the Barras (area of Glasgow) around 16:20 on Saturday, July 7.

“On that day, thousands lined the streets of Glasgow for Scotland’s biggest Orange Walk, spreading bigotry and division.

Glasgow Times:

“Now is the time to have a real debate on how we can stop this outdated and repressive display.

“Glasgow City Council must act to stop these marches. They have a long history of spreading anxiety and fear amongst everyday Glaswegians.

“There is no room in our society for this type of bigotry and division.

“Sign the petition and call time on the Orange Order marching on our streets!”

READ MORE: ‘It’s time to review our procedures’ - Council responds to ‘ban Orange Walk’ petition

Aiming to reach a target of 75,000, so far, over 50,200 have added their name to the campaign.

Glasgow City Council said it was aware of the petition and reiterated its earlier statement in which spokesman said: “We utterly condemn this appalling behaviour and urge anyone with any information on the incident to contact police.

“A meeting with council officers will be held this week as it’s perhaps time to review our procedures in light of a number of factors.

“We will also continue to liaise with Police Scotland, organisers, the Scottish Government, third parties and stakeholders as part of the council's processions code of conduct.”

Jim McHarg, Grand Master of the Grand Orange Lodge of Scotland, said: “I, like so many others, was appalled to hear the reports of the incident that happened outside St Alphonsus Church in Glasgow on Saturday.  Verbal abuse is in itself unacceptable, but allegations of spitting is vile and disgusting, and we hope those involved are brought to justice. 

READ MORE: Prominent Scottish actor  'ashamed' of Glasgow in wake of attack on Catholic priest

"Whilst I am assured that no members of the parade were involved in any of the incidents, we understand it was carried out by a small group of young men who turned up to watch the parade go past.

“The Orange Order is founded on the principal of religious liberty for all. 

“This includes the right of other faiths to celebrate their own heritage and history, just as we celebrate ours. Unfortunately, there are a small number of people in society who seem unwilling to accept this tolerant approach. 

“Indeed, many of them allude to beliefs and sing songs about a time in the past which they probably know very little about or fail to understand completely. 

READ MORE: Police vow to catch thug responsible for priest attack during Orange March

“I have only one message for them: you are not welcome at any of our parades.

“I have today asked our executive officer to call Canon White to express our sadness at what he had to endure. We have also written to the Archdiocese. We have contacted the police to offer our full support in their investigations. A number of members of the parade witnessed the incident on Saturday, and senior members intervened at the time to stand up for Canon White. Those members will be key witnesses for the police and stand ready to assist.

“Whilst it may be said that the Orange Order has different opinions to the Roman Catholic Church, I have no hesitation in stating that today we stand with Canon White in saying that this sort of behaviour has no place in society.”