Loyalist activist Jamie Bryson made a complaint to the PSNI which led to SDLP leader Colum Eastwood being asked by police for an interview under caution over a walk to a Derry courthouse in August.
The Foyle MP described the investigation into the walk by Bloody Sunday families to the court on Bishop Street as a “total and utter farce”.
Mr Eastwood said police want to interview him under caution. He made the comments as he walked out of Strand Road police station.
Police are investigating a complaint in relation to the events on August 25, which saw members of the Bloody Sunday families walking together to the courthouse for a hearing in relation to the prosecution of Soldier F.
Mr Bryson confirmed that he made a complaint.
In a statement, he said: “If the Public Processions Act 1998 is to be rigorously enforced against unionists/loyalists, then so too must the same rigour be applied to nationalists and others. We cannot continue with a two-tier system.”
He added that Mr Eastwood’s “arrogant attitude displays contempt for the rule of law”.
“This is not about the Bloody Sunday families who are entitled to pursue what they see as justice through the prism of their version of legacy matters, but rather simply about the equal application of the law.”
In his complaint, Mr Bryson said the event “presents an important test for the PSNI’s commitment to equality under the law”.
The walk took place ahead of a hearing involving Soldier F, a former paratrooper who cannot be identified.
He is accused of murdering James Wray and William McKinney when members of the Parachute Regiment shot dead 13 civil rights protesters on the streets of the city in 1972. He is also charged with five attempted murders.
The Foyle MP went to Strand Road police station on Friday to lodge a protest after he was asked for the interview under caution. Mr Eastwood said he walked out after officers failed to meet him.
“I attended Strand Road police station today at a time pre-arranged with police to lodge a protest with the PSNI after being asked to be interviewed under caution for walking with Bloody Sunday families to court in August,” Mr Eastwood said.
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“I was there to tell them that they should not be hauling victims and their families in for questioning, retraumatising them for walking together to court after 52 years of seeking justice. In the week that it was confirmed that someone will finally face a criminal prosecution for the events of that day, this process is an outrage.
“The SDLP has stood with Bloody Sunday families for 52 years. I have stood with them all my life - I was with them during the publication of the Saville report, I have been with them the whole way through the process of bringing someone to court and I have stood up for them at Westminster. I will be with them until the end of the line.
“This isn’t about me - it’s about a 52 year struggle for justice against the interests of the British state and its agencies. These families have had justice delayed and denied for more than five decades. They have had their loved ones taken from them, their names blackened and their campaign whitewashed.
“There is no person and no power that will ever, ever stop us standing with these families in their fight for justice.”
Mr Eastwood said he agreed with the PSNI to attend at 1pm but they “didn’t bother to turn up”. He went to the station to tell the police he would not be answering any questions for the investigation.
“I’ve been sitting in there for 20 minutes and the PSNI have refused to send down to interview me. So I’ll not be partaking in any further part of this process, I was only going in there to tell them that this was a farce and it shouldn’t happen, and that’s the end of the matter.
“Good luck to the PSNI if this is the type of approach that they’re taking.”
Mr Eastwood added: “Innocent families who’ve been through five decades of hurt and pain and injustice walked up a street. It is utterly ridiculous that the PSNI think this is the way to approach victims of what happened on Bloody Sunday.”
Asked if he believed there would be ramifications for leaving or if he could be arrested, he said: “If the PSNI think arresting a member of parliament for walking alongside and standing with Bloody Sunday families, well, they know where I live.”
A PSNi spokesperson said: “An investigation has commenced and, as enquiries are ongoing, it would be inappropriate to comment any further at this time.”