Hundreds of people are expected to attend an anti-racism rally outside the GPO on Dublin’s O’Connell Street this afternoon.
The rally was called in response to the racist attack in Temple Bar last weekend that lead to the death of a 50—year-old Chinese man.
Mr Leong Ly Min, a takeaway owner who had lived in Ireland since coming here as a refugee from Vietnam in 1979, died in hospital on Tuesday following the attack last Friday. Two men have been charged in connection with his death.
SIPTU have called on their members to join the rally, insisting the trade union movement has a vital role to play in ending sectarianism and racism within Irish society.
"Trade unions have always recognised that hate-based ideologies such as racism and sectarianism are like corrosive acids which eat away the bond of solidarity which we need to foster in a progressive society," said Mr Mike Jennings of SIPTU.
Mr Daithí Doolan, of Sinn Féin, called on the public to voice their objection to this and other racist incidents throughout the city. "We have seen the ugly face of racism on our streets of Dublin and it is time for all to take responsibility in tacklingthe rising tide of racist violence," he said.