Belfast protest: Thousands gather for anti-racism rally

Thousands of people gathered at Belfast City Hall around 1 pm for the “Together Against Hate” rally, demonstrating their opposition to racism following recent unrest in the city. To accommodate the large crowd, the police closed several roads in the city centre. The event attracted participants from various political parties and trade unions, all united in condemning the violence and promoting a message of inclusion.

Attendees were seen carrying banners with slogans such as “Strike back against racism,” “Refugees welcome,” and “Riots don’t speak for Belfast.” The demonstration was organised by the group United Against Racism, which has sought to bring the community together in response to recent disturbing events. The rally began with chants of “Say it loud, say it clear, refugees are welcome here. Who is Belfast? We are Belfast,” illustrating the solidarity present among those gathered.

Ivanka Antova, one of the speakers at the rally, reflected on the harrowing recent events: “This week we witnessed something we will never forget. The scenes of families and young children fleeing their homes in terror. We’ll never forget how rich and powerful people used their online platforms.” She added, “The whole world watched Belfast in horror. There is nothing legitimate about racist pogroms, and racism has no place in our city.” Antova also praised the hundreds of volunteers who helped evacuate residents, provided meals, and supported frightened communities during the crisis.

Several speakers criticised the local police and political institutions for their perceived failure to respond effectively, indicating that community groups and refugee women had to step forward to manage the fallout. Meanwhile, an anti-racism protest was also taking place at Londonderry’s Guildhall. The recent disorder in Belfast and other Northern Ireland towns erupted after widely shared footage of a knife attack sparked tensions, resulting in outbreaks of violence involving hundreds of masked individuals. The unrest was limited to certain areas but led to early closures of schools and shops, as well as the suspension of public transport. Hadi Alodid, originally from Sudan, has been charged with attempted murder in connection to the attack that seriously injured Stephen Ogilvie

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