Thousands attend anti-racism rallies in Belfast and Derry after week of disorder

An estimated 3,000 people have attended an anti-racism rally in Belfast following days of unrest provoked by a knife attack.

Organised by the Unite Against Racism organisation, the Together Against Hate rally took place outside Belfast City Hall on Saturday afternoon.

It followed days of violent demonstrations held across the city in the wake of a stabbing attack in which Stephen Ogilvie lose an eye and suffer deep cuts to his head, face and back.

Several demonstrators held placards during the demonstration reading slogans including “racists go home” and “the problem is evil and violence, not race”.

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During the rally, crowds chanted “who is Belfast, we are Belfast” and “say it loud, say it clear, refugees are welcome here”.

A small counter-protest also gathered next to the City Hall.

Police detained prominent National Front figure Tony Martin during the rally. It’s understood he was later released.

Cara Bell, 32, and Matthew Richardson, 33, got married in the City Hall on Saturday while the rally was under way and after their ceremony, they came out to join the crowd.

Mr Richardson said: “We kind of knew that there would likely be a protest on the wedding day as it’s a Saturday, and we were just glad that it was one that we obviously support.”

Ms Bell said: “We would have been down here if we weren’t getting married.”

She added that the unrest over the last couple of days has been “really awful to witness”, adding: “I think it’s important to note that things like today really show that this is not the general feeling of people in Belfast.

“I do think, on the whole, people in Belfast are welcoming and friendly.”

Ms Bell added that it’s been “a week where you’ve seen the worst of humanity and the best of humanity in Belfast”.

Among those speaking at the demonstration was leader of the Opposition SDLP MLA Matthew O’Toole, who said that earlier this week, he could have “cried with anger, fear, and frustration at the hate on our streets”.

“I could cry now but cry with joy at this demonstration of anti-racism, of solidarity and of opposition to hate on our streets,” he added.

Elaine Crory from the WRDA also delivered a speech, telling attendees: “All it takes is for one person who’s not white and local to commit a crime and that fire of racism is rekindled.”

She said this will happen because “the root cause of the problem” is not being tackled, adding that the police have arrested “fewer people than were officially made homeless”.

On Saturday, the PSNI said that it had arrested 23 people over the disorder - 17 of whom have been charged to court.

Sinn Fein Lord Mayor of Belfast Rois-Maire Donnelly also spoke after saying earlier this week she had been visited by the police and warned of a threat to her life.

Ms Donnelly told the crowd that the city is “stronger” because of its diversity, adding: “The Belfast I know is resilient, compassionate and welcoming.”

During the demonstration, one speaker referred to “the world’s first trillionaire Elon Musk”, which was met with boos from the crowd.

Online posts from people including Mr Musk, the boss of social media platform X, had highlighted demands for people to take to the streets in the wake of Monday’s attack.

Mal O’Hara, of the Green Party, told the crowd: “When I saw the video, my first thought was with Stephen Ogilvie and his family and those who witnessed that horrific attack.

“But immediately afterwards a chill went down my spine because I knew the racist and fascist manipulators would use it as an excuse to attack people, and so they did.”

The demonstration on Saturday lasted for just under two hours.

Before it began, organisers had posted “protest safety tips” to their social media account, informing attendees to “stay calm, focused, and peaceful”.

Meanwhile, thousands of people attended a similar event in Derry.

During the event Betty Doherty, of the Bloody Sunday March Committee, said “what we are seeing amounts to a pogrom.

“Families have been forced from their homes,” she said.

“People are being targeted in the streets and hate speech is spreading both online and in public.

“These are not isolated events.

“They form a pattern of fear that has no place here.”

She made comparisons to Derry’s troubled past.

“We remember when the British state viewed the people of the Bogside in Derry as lesser, believing it could enter the streets of the Bogside and shoot down our community during the Bloody Sunday Massacre,” she said.

“We know first hand what it means to be dehumanised, targeted and treated as if your life and dignity did not matter.”

Beverly Simpson, of trade union Unison, said those at the rally showed love and support.

“This is the Northern Ireland I know and I love, not the one I saw on television a couple of nights ago,” she said.

“It was burn Belfast burn and nobody cared.

“The few that cared were too sacred to come out.

“The healthcare workers who were targeted, couldn’t go to work.

“Any brown or black person was targeted.

“Safety is a basic need and we can’t live in a country where you don’t feel safe. We are our country. We are our community. We are one people regardless of skin colour.”