Thousands Attend Belfast Anti-Racism Rally After Rioters Burn Homes and Cars

Thousands gathered in Belfast on Saturday for an anti-racism rally after days of violence that targeted homes, businesses and vehicles across Northern Ireland, following a knife attack that left the victim with serious injuries.

“Toggle Play Thousands attend anti-racism rally in Belfast Thousands joined anti-racism demonstrations across the UK after days of anti-immigration unrest”

Al Jazeera

The BBC said the “Together Against Hate” rally started at about 13:00 at Belfast City Hall, with police closing a number of roads to facilitate the crowd.

Al Jazeera

The BBC reported that the disorder was sparked after footage of the knife attack in north Belfast on Monday night was shared widely on social media, and that a man has been charged with attempted murder.

NBC News said the anti-immigrant rioters set fire to homes and cars earlier in the week after a brutal stabbing blamed on an asylum seeker, and it described protests turning violent when masked men torched a bus and pelted police with bricks, bottles and firebombs.

At the rally, demonstrators held banners including “Refugees welcome” and “Riots don't speak for Belfast,” and the crowd chanted “Say it loud, say it clear, refugees are welcome here. Who is Belfast? We are Belfast.”

BBC reported that speaker Ivanka Antova, the chair of United Against Racism Belfast, said: “This week we witnessed something we will never forget.”

BBC

NBC News quoted Elaine Crory telling the crowd gathered outside Belfast City Hall: “All it takes is for one person who’s not white and local to commit a crime and that fire of racism is rekindled,” as she addressed the link between crime and racist mobilisation.

The BBC also quoted Carmel Gates from the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, who said: “The only practical thing that Westminster can do is provide money to tackle the poverty that fuels racism,” while urging a message to the far right to “get out of our communities.”

The BBC said police have made 23 arrests, 17 people have been charged to court, five have been bailed, and one person was reported to the Public Prosecution Service (PPS) in connection with the week’s violence.

“Thousands gather for anti-racism rally after Belfast unrest Thousands of people on Saturday gathered for an anti-racism rally in the Northern Irish city of Belfast after unrest was triggered by a stabbing attack”

Middle East Eye

The New Arab reported that Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn said the rioting had created a sense of fear with some people being “intimidated” and “burned out of their houses by masked thugs on the basis of the colour of their skin”.

The New Arab also said Benn described reports of people being stopped in their cars and asked their nationality on their way to work as “completely unacceptable,” while the Unite Against Racism rally continued outside Belfast City Hall.

In the BBC’s account of the aftermath, Mohamed Eltayeb said the “correct way” to react to anger was by taking part in “civilised protest” that did not involve violence, and he said Saturday’s event made him “feel more relaxed” because of “overwhelming support” from politicians, trade unions and local people.