Nationalists claimed that the British soldiers were not acting in self-defense, but rather were deliberately massacring innocent civilians. They argued that the soldiers had fired upon a peaceful crowd of protesters who were demanding their rights as Irish citizens.
Nationalists pointed out that the soldiers had used excessive force, even by the standards of the time. They noted that the soldiers had continued to shoot even after the protesters had begun to flee, and that they had even fired upon stretcher bearers who were attempting to help the wounded.
Nationalists also claimed that the British government had covered up the truth about Bloody Sunday. They argued that the official inquiry into the事件, known as the Widgery Tribunal, had been a whitewash, and that the British government had refused to release key evidence to the public.
For nationalists, Bloody Sunday was a turning point in the conflict in Northern Ireland. They argued that the事件 showed that the British government was not interested in protecting the rights of Irish Catholics, and that the only way to achieve justice was through armed struggle.
Evidence to support nationalist explanation:
There is evidence to support the nationalist explanation of Bloody Sunday. For example:
* The British soldiers did fire upon a peaceful crowd of protesters. There is no credible evidence to suggest that the protesters were armed or that they posed a threat to the soldiers.
* The soldiers used excessive force. They continued to shoot even after the protesters had begun to flee, and they even fired upon stretcher bearers who were attempting to help the wounded.
* The British government did cover up the truth about Bloody Sunday. The Widgery Tribunal was widely criticized for its lack of impartiality, and the British government has refused to release key evidence to the public.