Up to 15,000 people took part in a peaceful anti-racism rally in Belfast on Saturday, after a week of rioting and disorder in the city.
But there was an outbreak of trouble on Saturday night in Derry, 70 miles from Belfast. Ten officers were injured during the disorder in Nailors Row, said the Police Service of Northern Ireland, with fireworks, petrol bombs and other missiles used to attack officers. Derry City and Strabane Supt William Calderwood said one person was arrested and “a robust investigation is under way to bring all those responsible for this violence to justice”.
During Saturday a huge crowd assembled in Belfast, many holding placards with anti-racism and pro-migrant messages.
Organised by the United Against Racism group, the protesters made their way to City Hall, chanting: “When migrants’ rights are under attack, what do we do? Stand up, fight back.”
The day before, about 1,000 people gathered in the city for a counter-protest against several hundred anti-immigration demonstrators. A heavy police presence and barriers were put in place to keep the two groups apart.
More than 120 groups took part in Saturday’s demonstration and several people made speeches on a stage outside City Hall, including women from migrant groups, representatives from a racial equality group and from unions and a migrant whose business was attacked last week.
Areeg Fareh, from Anaka Women’s Collective, said: “We have made Northern Ireland our home. We are in communities all around the city. Yes, we have experienced racism. It is challenging and it hurts but most people here have shown us kindness and understanding.
“We bring skills and knowledge in a diverse range of areas, from medicine to engineering, to business and computers to art and culture. We have much to give and want to share with you all.”
Raied al-Wazzan, vice-chair of the Northern Ireland Council for Racial Equality and a Muslim who has lived in Belfast for four decades, told the crowd that he “feels proud” to have chosen the city to make his home.
“Ethnic minorities are part of the fabric of Belfast. I have spent 43 years of my life here contributing to this community. And I am going to stay here. And I will not go away,” he said.
Sinn Féin assembly member Deirdre Hargey said: “Belfast, it’s great to see so many of its citizens here today in defiance of the Islamophobic and racist violence and thuggery that we have witnessed the past week. Belfast is a welcome, progressive and forward-looking inclusive city. It’s a place I am proud to call home.”
SDLP MP for South Belfast Claire Hanna said: “Thank you for being here to stand up to racism and Islamophobia and thank you for pushing back on the joyless empty rhetoric from the same people who look for new ways to divide our community and look for new wedges to divide through this society.
“Grifters trying to take people down another dead end, distorting the worldviews of others who are tired and easily preyed on.
“Thank you for pushing back on the mind-binding logic on the people who stood here yesterday with placards saying ‘protect our kids’, but who sent 10 and 12-year-olds to skirmish with the police.”
Rioting erupted across parts of the UK due to misinformation online that the suspect in the stabbing of three young girls in Southport last month was a Muslim asylum seeker.
Since last Saturday, businesses, homes and people have been targeted by anti-immigrant protesters across Belfast.
Earlier on Saturday, a petrol bomb was thrown at a mosque in a town 10 miles from Belfast. The attack in Newtownards in County Down was described by police as racially motivated.
The mosque was attacked at about 1am, with graffiti sprayed on the front door and walls of the building. Police said the petrol bomb did not ignite.
A PSNI spokesperson said: “This is being treated as a racially motivated hate crime.”
Five more arrests were made in Belfast on Friday, bringing the total number of people arrested to 31.
A 22-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of throwing a bottle at a police vehicle. He will appear in court on 6 September charged with offences including disorderly behaviour and criminal damage.
A 51-year-old man also arrested in the city centre has also been charged with disorderly behaviour and was due to appear in court on Saturday.
A 37-year-old man was in custody after being arrested in the seaside town of Portrush on suspicion of “intentionally encouraging riot” in relation to online activity.
Temporary assistant chief constable Melanie Jones said: “We continue to investigate all reports made to us in relation to the recent disorder on our streets and we will be making further arrests.
“The outpouring of support from our communities for their Muslim neighbours has been heartening and more accurately reflects the views of most of the citizens of Northern Ireland.
“We will continue to have a significant visible policing operation in place across Northern Ireland over the weekend to ensure our communities are kept safe.”
Meanwhile, two 14-year-old boys were arrested in Derry after protest activity in the city on Friday. The arrests came after a number of petrol bombs were found by police. Both appeared before a special sitting of Dungannon magistrates court on Saturday.
Source: theguardian.com
