The killers of murdered journalist Lyra McKee are caught in an antiquated time warp, a demonstration by mainstream republicans heard.
Sinn Fein deputy leader Michelle O'Neill said those involved had appointed themselves to carry out actions she branded pointless, anti-peace and anti-community.
The party's vice president addressed an Easter commemoration ceremony in Londonderry on Sunday and hit out at "futile" dissident republicans who want to kill police.
Ms McKee was shot in the head by a gunman aiming to murder officers during disturbances in the Creggan area of the city on Thursday.
It is thought the disturbances were organised by members of the dissident Republican group the New IRA.
The New IRA is opposed to the peace process, with the terror group recently claiming responsibility for parcel bombs sent to London and Glasgow in March.
Police believe the violence on Thursday was orchestrated in response to an earlier search by officers aimed at averting imminent trouble associated with this week's anniversary of the 1916 Easter Rising.
Around 50 petrol bombs were thrown in the confrontation and two cars were burned out.
During the violence on the Creggan estate a gunman took a potshot at police but hit the 29-year-old journalist instead.
And locals in the Nationalist stronghold of Creggan where Ms McKee was shot have now taken their anger out on those still wanting to take up arms to further the Republican cause by defacing slogans supporting the IRA.
Graffitit that had said “IRA Undefeated Army, Unfinished Revolution” has now been changed to: “IRA are done. Defeated Army. Finished Revolution.”
The landmark Free Derry Corner has also been repainted to reflect revulsion felt at the killing of Ms McKee.
The famous civil rights-era slogan on a gable wall is regularly altered to reflect community sentiment in the Bogside estate in Londonderry.
A message at Free Derry Corner said: "Not in our name, RIP Lyra" with a heart painted beside it.
And speaking at the Easter commemoration ceremony on Sunday commemoration ceremony Sinn Fein deputy leader O'Neill hit out at those who continue to pursue an armed struggle against the British state.
She said: "The people who brought guns on to the street, and those who organised them do not represent any version of Irish republicanism.
"They have no politics, no strategy, and no popular support amongst the vast number of ordinary people from this city, or anywhere else in the country.
"Sadly, what we have here is a small number of people caught in a time warp who have self-appointed themselves to carry out actions which are pointless, anti-peace, anti-community and frankly, antiquated.
"They are living in a fool's paradise if they think they are any type of rival to the Sinn Fein and the nationalist/republican and progressive people of Derry or the 32 counties."
O'Neill extended her sympathies and condolences to Ms McKee's family, her partner Sara and her friends and colleagues.
She said Ms McKee was an "intelligent, hardworking, articulate young woman", who had a whole life to lead. Her funeral will be held in her native Belfast on Wednesday.
The Mid Ulster Stormont Assembly member appealed for young people involved in dissident activity to consider what type of future they wanted - one of peace or one of death - and what type of Ireland they wanted to be part of going forward.
"It is high time these men disbanded and ended their futile actions," she added.
Police arrested two teenagers in connection with the killing of Ms Mckee. They were later released without charge.
Meanwhile a man has been arrested after two suspect devices were found outside houses in Londonderry on Sunday morning.
Residents in several properties were evacuated while an area close to the city's police station on Strand Road was among those affected by the disruption.
The 39-year-old suspect was detained in the city and taken to a Belfast police station for questioning, the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) said.
Nationalist SDLP leader Colum Eastwood said: "Those responsible for dragging families out of their homes onto the street on Easter Sunday morning are nothing but thugs.
"It's well past time these faceless cowards went away and got off the backs of the people in Derry.
"Derry is a wonderful city filled to the brim with talent and hardworking people trying to get on in life - yet these 'hoods' think they can drag us back and continue to limit the opportunities for our people."
Suspicious objects discovered in both areas have been examined by ammunition technical officers who declared them to be non-viable devices.
They have now been removed for further examination.
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