Belfast - Now The Most Racist City In The World According To Der Spiegel

antrim | rights, freedoms and repression | feature Thursday March 03, 2005 21:42 by Davy Carlin - Chairperson Anti Racism Network carlindavid at hotmail dot com 07774053223

200 Falls Road Residents Mobilise in Protest Against Rascist Attack on Home of Four Lithuanians

Over two hundred residents from the Beechmount - Falls Road area mobilised last night in protest at the recent racist attack on the home of four Lithuanians. Addressing the crowd Sara Boyce {ARN steering group and West Belfast ARN} stated that:

'Only last week, a German magazine claimed Belfast was the most racist city in the world. What happened here at the weekend does little to dispel this claim. Ethic minorities throughout Belfast are being routinely victimised, whether it is through having their homes attacked or being called names when walking the streets'.

Local Sinn Fein Councillor Tom Hartley called on the local community not to allow a gang of thugs to destroy its good name:

'We need to stand shoulder to shoulder with the Lithuanians forced from their homes and show them that what happened is despised by the wider community. People of all ethnic minorities are welcome in West Belfast. This area is not a cold house for anyone. The group that carried out the attack are not just racist - they have also continually attacked members of their own community.'

Continue reading about the work of the Anti-Racist Network and about their upcoming 'Love Music Hate Racism' March 6th concert in Belfast at the 'feature continued' link below.

ORIGINAL NEWSWIRE ARTICLE AND GIG DETAILS BELOW

Having been termed as the most racist city in Europe Belfast is now being termed as the most racist city in the world.

In today’s 'Daily Ireland' newspaper, it states that a leading International magazine has branded Belfast the most racist city in the world.

In an article in the leading German magazine 'Der Spiegel' about political developments in the North, Belfast was branded, 'the world’s most racist city'.

ARN Steering group member Barbara Muldoon said that the perception of Belfast as the race hate capital of the world was an easy one to sell.

'Many people would see that as a fair comment'

'There are more racist attacks on ethnic minorities in Belfast than in other cities'
But those attacks are being carried out by the same small group of people and it is important to recognise that'.

'It's that small group that colours the perception abroad'

The ARN have been at the forefront of the stand against racism and racist attacks over the last year and a half. This has been recognised both in Ireland and Internationally.

Yet recent statistics show that that stand needs not only to continue but to enlarge as we seek to create new associations around the North to attempt to push back the tide of racist brutality..

Therefore we urge people to continue to join us. Below I give but a brief report on our actions and activities to date.

In effect since the Jan 27th rally and within the space of six months we had seen the closing of the Belfast BNP branch, the ceasing of organised overt racial attacks in specific areas for a time thus providing breathing space for ethnic minority communities.

We have seen mass mobilisations of thousands of citizens in Belfast partaking in ARN marches and rallies. We have also seen our local responses and mobilisations involving many many hundreds of local people within working class communities at a local level. This has indeed lead the media at home an Internationally to state that 'A movement against Racism is born in Northern Ireland or, 'Catholic and Protestant unite in a Growing Movement against Race -Hate attacks. etc etc

We also have provided active support and shelter for those put out of there homes, we have participated in trade union and local community marches and protested at detaining centres at the Belfast International airport.

We have seen the empowerment of some working class communities against attacks; we have seen us moving the trade union movement into action in support of our stand on several occassions as well as trade union councils and trade unions (workers organisations).

We have seen the censoring and full withdrawal of racist statements from the UUP to the SDLP, and also the standing firm and putting our 'head' above the water to stand visual and vocally against paramilitary attacks.

We have organised street protests and agitation, paint outs, white line pickets, public meetings, spray paintings – street art, poster and leaflet campaigns, stalls, and have seen the sending out of the police (state) and statutory bodies' big guns to attempt to counter our arguments. We have asked the hardest of questions and expected and got answers

We have ssen the police, paramilitaries, far right organisations, state bodies, at times being put on the back foot, the ceasing of organised racist attacks for specific periods in specific areas. The concentration and public focus directed at the socio and economic conditions - deprivation of working class communities, i.e. the lack of housing, facilities and actively seeking to raise and to campaign on these issues.

The raising of Fortress Europe, real support and defence drawn up for those attacked, the organisation of anti racism gigs of many hundreds of people at venues around Belfast, the expansion of the ARN into associations around Belfast and beyond, bringing the immediate situation to the worlds TV screens, solidarity with other wider issues, creating cross community support and activity, gathering and receiving solidarity from across the globe, at times beginning to push the tide of racism back, and much more.

The ARN is a grass root campaign - movement, which has and will continue to take that stand against the continual racism and racist attacks. We are an anti racist activist campaign who does not seek to move on to pastures or opportunities anew - we have and are in for the long haul - unlike others.

This week for example.

Dear Friends,

The third LMHR gig is on this Sunday. We have a great line up of artists who will provide a great night of music and craic. It is a night to pencil into your diaries as my wife and I have already done, as so to raise finance for the ARN. This, while of course in the process meeting many of our activists and supporters at a great night out.

Having myself organised the first two LMHR gigs with others, it is a great to see Music journalist Charlotte Dryden organising this one, our third, for the Network. Hope you can lend your support, and hope to see you there. All the best Davy Carlin, Chair, ARN

Love Music Hate Racism" gig, Belfast

The Limelight, Belfast on Sunday, the 6th March. Organised by the music journalist Charlotte Dryden.

Music from 'The subtitles', 'Tin Pot Operation' and a headline act that can only be announced closer to the date. In addition DJ's Charlie & Sarah will be performing.

Doors 8pm. Tickets cost £4.

Link www.arnni.tk


Also, - South Belfast meeting

Friends,
there will be a meeting of the South Belfast ARN this Thursday 3rd March
at 7pm.

The venue will be 30 University Street (which is the offices of the {NI Travellers Movement).


We will be discussing, amongst other things the "Love Music Hate Racism"
Gig that will be taking place in the Limelight on Sunday 6th March.

See you there,
Mark
Barbara
Mick


So if persons wish to join us in our continued stand then e-mail either myself or the network at antiracism_ni@hotmail.com

Finally also on the other half of the page on Daily Ireland was a good report on Communities against the Water Tax {CAWT}, {which I will support actively -} The report stated that CAWT -

'Has been at the forefront of the campaign' {Water Tax}

'And that it represents some of the poorest communities in the North'.

Again a worthy campaign to get involved in. D