Thousands of people marched in Belfast on Saturday in solidarity against racism. Earlier this week, a knife attack sparked days of anti-immigration violence.Demonstrators gathered outside Belfast City Hall under the banner “Together against Hate”, holding placards reading “Refugees are welcome”, “Riots do not represent Belfast” and “Belfast stands against racism”.The rally came after two nights of unrest across the city, with masked thugs attacking homes, businesses and vehicles in minority neighborhoods.
Knife attack sparks tensions
The unrest sparked after footage of a stabbing in north Belfast on Monday night was widely shared on social media. The attack seriously injured Stephen Ogilvy.A 30-year-old Sudanese man, Hadi Alodid, later appeared in court charged with attempted murder. As news and video of the incident spread online, protests erupted in parts of Belfast, some of which turned violent.
Households and businesses targeted
Police deployed armored vehicles to several hotspots and hundreds of masked men took to the streets. In some areas, vehicles were set on fire, property was damaged, and ethnic minority residents appeared to be specifically targeted.Many families were forced to flee their homes as mobs attacked residential streets. A Middle Eastern supermarket that had been targeted earlier in the riots was also set on fire, causing extensive damage.There are also reports of motorists being stopped on their way to work and asked about their nationality.
‘Racism has no place in our city’
Speaking at Saturday’s rally, Ivanka Antova, chair of the Belfast Alliance Against Racism, said the city had witnessed scenes of “families and young children fleeing their homes out of fear”.“The whole world is looking at Belfast in horror,” she told the crowd. “There is no legitimacy to a racist massacre and racism has no place in our city.”Speakers praised volunteers who helped relocate affected families, provide meals and support frightened communities during the violence.
Political leaders join protests
The rally was attended by representatives from the main political parties, trade unions and community organisations, including Belfast’s new mayor Róis-Máire Donnelly.Union leader Carmel Gates linked the riots to poverty and social inequality, while also condemning far-right groups involved in the riots.“We have enough divisions in this community and we will not tolerate racism,” she said.
Police continue to investigate
So far, police have arrested 23 people in connection with the riots, 17 of whom have been charged. Authorities have appealed for calm as the investigation into the stabbing and subsequent disturbance continues.The violence comes amid growing concerns about a rise in race-related hate crimes in Northern Ireland, with official figures recently reaching their highest levels since records began two decades ago.
