North Belfast Rally Against Racism
antrim |
rights, freedoms and repression |
news report 
Thursday November 11, 2004 12:08
by Davy Carlin - ARN
After attacks in North Belfast on persons from the minority ethnic community an immediate local response in the form of a picket was called. This later became a rally given the growing local support. So last night we saw up to two hundred persons rallying on a cold night out side the Fortwilliam shops on the Antrim Road
Dear Friends,
After attacks in North Belfast on persons from the minority ethnic community an immediate local response in the form of a picket was called. This later became a rally given the growing local support. So last night we saw up to two hundred persons rallying on a cold night out side the Fortwilliam shops on the Antrim Road. Again this was an inspiring local and immediate community response to these latest attacks which are happening now almost on a daily basis. The ARN now has local associations all around Belfast with groups also outside of Belfast. If persons want to get involved in their local group or indeed establish one then drop us a line at antiracism_ni@hotmail.com
These attacks, as stated, are increasing not only numerically but also in their viciousness and if they are not nipped in the bud it will be but a matter of time before, once again, someone is killed. Again we urge persons to get actively involved in the ARN or set up groups in your local community as so we collectively can begin to attempt to push back this wave of attacks and racism now happening around Northern Irish society. The ARN work many strategies but as a local commentator said this morning 'he had never seen before such local immediate response anti -racism rallies, after attacks on the minority ethnic community'.
Of course while we need to work to see that such rallies are not needed, we nevertheless know that such events send out a clear message to the bigots that residents within the local community are saying that such attacks will not be tolerated. And more especially at the same time showing both solidarity to the victims of the attacks and to let them know that they are welcome within the community.
Although the bigot’s actions put them on the news, the reality is that there is so much goodwill, support and solidarity that goes unreported that comes from the local communities. The ARN collectively through various avenues of our activity have had, and will have a vital role to play in attempting to push back this tide of racism that is becoming ever more numerical and brutal across Northern Irish society. So join us, get active and stand firm. D
Comments (5 of 5)
Jump To Comment: 1 2 3 4 5Today’s Irish news editorial is entitled 'We must unite to stop racism'
It goes on in a lengthy editorial to call for community support for such local community rallies that have been organised by the ARN and further adds that,
''While condemnation from politicians is expected, strong messages of both solidarity with victims and utter rejection of racist behaviour will only be heard when people stand together within the affected communities.'
If we want to end racist behaviour and attitudes then there is no better place to start than home, by which I mean our own long-running racist issue. We could start with an end to orange marches.
Surely banning the Orange Order from marching would be anti-British Racism?I'm not a member nor do I subscribe to their world-view but we really need to move forward with the peace process and imposing more restrictions on people's civil liberties would be a retrograde step.The inevitable result would be more violence on the streets.
The only way to combat racism in all its forms is to ensure that all citizens are treated equally and fairly .That means NO discrimination,positive or otherwise and tough police action to crack down on ALL thuggery and violent behaviour.
The rule on marching should be basically that no-one should be permitted to march in areas where they are not welcome,but apart from that no restrictions should be placed on any peaceful,law abiding march or demonstration.
Firstly, how many British people (or those who consider themselves British) are actually in the orange order or attend their parades ? This figure is probably less than 1% of the "british" population, so banning orange marches hardly qualifies as anti-British racism.
As for "moving forward with the peace-process" the GFA itself has simply institutionalised sectarianism and re-inforced it, the results of this 10 years into a provo ceasefire are plain to see on the ground. The only reason loyalists arent slaughtering catholic civilians as often as they used to is that their MI6 bosses dont allow them to for purely military and political considerations (for the time being at least)
The fact is that the vast majority of racist attacks in the north come from the loyalist paramilitaries which are basically controlled by govt agencies such as FRU/14TH intelligence and the PSNI special branch.
Surely then the only way racism and sectarianism can be effectively defeated , in the north at least, is by an end to British rule as it is primarily responsible for these twin evils ?
As for "peaceful and law abiding" marchers, the bigoted drug-dealing scum and detritus who often accompany these coat-trailing processions hardly fall under that category.
There is no human rights law that says that hate speech is OK or that we have to be bystanders to it. Any speech that incites genocide or makes a community feel threatened is hate speech, and you better believe we have every right to ban it.
It is not ok to verbally/sexually harass a co-worker, it is not ok to burn crosses in the yards of African-Americans, it is not ok to yell fire in a theater, and it is not ok to celebrate the genocide/conquest of a people like happens here in Denver, Colorado every year with the Columbus Day parade that celebrates the European conquest of Turtle Island's indigenous peoples.
Resist all anti-Native parades!!
www.transformcolumbusday.org
www.coloradoaim.org
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