Belfast anti-racist protests grow in support in response to far-right violence

Support for Belfast’s planned Anti-racist counter-protest is growing after similar marches in England yesterday saw high attendance.

The marches were organised in response to recent far-right violence. Walthamstow in London borough saw a crowd of over a thousand protesters, while similar crowds gathered in Birmingham, Sheffield, and Middlesbrough.

Enormous crowds of anti-racist demonstrators in Walthamstow. pic.twitter.com/F46r11iZHM

— Charlotte England (@CharlottEngland) August 7, 2024

A similar demonstration is planned in Belfast, with the ‘Belfast Welcomes Diversity’ rally taking place in Writer’s Square this Saturday.

The march was initially organised by a coalition of United Against Racism Belfast (UARB), End Deportations Belfast and Rainbow Refugees, who have since been joined by a number of other organisations.

In a post on social media, UARB said the growth in support was “such a heartening antidote to the racism we've witnessed over the past few days.”

“These organisations represent hundreds of thousands of people across the North including workers, migrants, LGBTQ+ people, cross community and youth organisations, gaeilgeoirí, activists from various movements including women's sector, housing, environmentalists and more!” They added.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by United Against Racism Belfast (@uarbelfast)

Belfast City Council has supported the march, as well as Belfast native rappers Kneecap, who changed the time of their Palestine mural unveiling to attend the march.

Violence erupted in Southport last Tuesday, when a group of rioters attacked a local mosque in the wake of a stabbing.

Three children were killed in the attack, with eight other children and two adults being taken to hospital. Disinformation spread online falsely claimed the attacker, who was born and raised in wales, was a Muslim migrant.

Far right violence followed in England and Northern Ireland, with members of the 'Coolock Says No' anti-migrant campaign travelling from Dublin to Belfast to riot.