Support for a public demonstration against increasing racism in Northern Ireland is growing, it was confirmed today.
Parties across the political spectrum, trade unions, community groups and minority ethnic organisations have all backed nd a Halloween carnival-style rally in Belfast organised by the Anti-Racism Network (ARN).
The momentum grew the day after MPs on the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee investigating race hate heard in Belfast that far-right groups were taking advantage of paramilitary intimidation of minorities to gain a foothold in the province.
Mr Stephen Alexander of the ARN said it was encouraging so many people had come out to support the rally on Saturday.
"Racist attacks have appalled people right across Northern Ireland, and their support for this rally will clearly demonstrate that racism is something we don't want here." The theme for the rally was "No Excuses", he said because people were fed up hearing lame justifications for racist behaviour.
"Myths about `immigrants taking our jobs' or being 'a threat to local culture' are exactly that - stories with no basis in reality," he said. There was a racist crime reported almost every day in Belfast and new police figures made "very worrying reading", he added.
"Sadly, it's not uncommon for some people to unfairly blame ethnic minorities for deprivation in their area. It is wrong to scapegoat ethnic minorities for the failures in our society that existed long before their arrival," Mr Alexander said.
Figures released to the Belfast District Policing Partnership on Monday night showed there were nearly 130 racial or homophobic attacks reported to the police between April and September.
South Belfast was the worst area with 61 racist and nine homophobic incidents. It was followed by North Belfast where there were 29 racists and five homophobic incidents. In East Belfast there were 20 incidents combined and in West Belfast four homophobic and one racial incident.
PA