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Anti-racism rally held at Belfast City Hall

Bernie Allen
BBC News NI
BBC Police vehicles and protesters lined up outside Belfast City Hall during an anti-racism protest. Two police Land Rovers are visible in the foreground. The protesters are waving flags including red Nipsa flags. BBC
The anti-racism rally began at 13:00 BST on Saturday

Protesters gathered at Belfast City Hall on Saturday for a demonstration against racism.

The Stand Up to Racism rally was co-organised by United Against Racism Belfast, Reclaim the Agenda and the trade union Nipsa.

Organisers said the march was to show solidarity with migrant workers and refugees.

Northern Ireland has seen disorder and a spate of racist attacks in recent weeks.

The violence started nearly two weeks in Ballymena, County Antrim after a peaceful protest over an alleged sexual assault in the town.

The disorder later spread to other areas including Larne, Londonderry, Belfast and Portadown on subsequent nights.

Helen Crickard standing at the Belfast protest, looking directly at the camera. She has shoulder-length curly brown hair and glasses. She is wearing a black t-shirt under a purple and grey gillet.
Helen Crickard was among the protesters who took part in Saturday's demonstration

Speaking at Saturday's anti-racism rally at Belfast City Hall, Helen Crickard from Reclaim the Agenda said it was about education not violence.

"We are disgusted violence against women and girls is being used in this way," she said.

At the same location there was also an anti-immigration rally.

Police vehicles were present to separate the two groups.

Protesters gathered ahead of an anti-immigration rally outside Belfast City Hall on Saturday. A small group of people are standing behind a banner which says "Stop uncontrolled immigration, we need to protect our children, we stand together." Two of the protesters are also holding up a flag which shows half of a Northern Ireland flag and half an Irish tricolour.
Anti-immigration protesters gathered ahead of a separate rally which began at 14:00 BST

'Important to set an example'

The anti-racism rally was hosted by Northern Irish actor Lola Petticrew.

David Calvert was among members of the public who attended.

"It's important to set an example. It's important for my kids to see me show solidarity with people who are here for sanctuary," he said.

A woman with blonde hair, looking at the camera and smiling. She is wearing a white top, necklaces and sunglasses on her head. There is a crowd of people behind her.
Katie Allen says there is "no place for racism in Belfast"

Katie Allen also attended the anti-racism rally on Saturday.

"It's really important to show that there's no place for racism in Belfast. Simply turning up and supporting on the streets is a really important way of doing that," Ms Allen said.

On Friday night, a viable device was thrown through the window of the Belfast Islamic Centre during an attack.

Addressing this incident, Ms Allen said: "Especially with what we saw last night and the really clear and obvious attack on the Belfast Islamic Centre, I think we really all need to be out and showing that that's not something that we will tolerate in our society."

A woman with long brown hair, looking at the camera. She is wearing a white top and a black and white keffiyeh draped over her shoulders.

Nina Pall, from the Belfast Girl Gang group, said she "didn't see a lot of representation" growing up as a mixed-race person in Northern Ireland.

"It's really, really important to see that vocal support and to see representation within our communities as well," Ms Pall said.

She said it "means everything" for locals to come out and show their support.

A man, with shoulder length brown hair and brown stubble, looking at the camera. He is wearing a light blue t-shirt. There is a crowd of people behind him.
Conchúr Mac Adaim says housing issues did not start when migration increased

Conchúr Mac Adaim from Community Action Tenants Union said there are "real issues in housing", but added: "We also know those issues in housing didn't start whenever we started to see migration and these things.

"It's an ongoing problem across Ireland and the concerns that people do have around housing aren't going to be fixed by attacking their neighbours.

"They're actually only fixed by coming together and starting to put the pressure on the Housing Executive, the government and the sort of people who actually have the levers of power to fix these things."

A woman with short grey hair, pictured from the shoulders up. She is wearing a navy top, a necklace and glasses. There are anti-racism posters hung up behind her.

Eileen Weir is a community activity and member of Reclaim the Agenda.

She said she has worked in peacebuilding for the last 30 years.

Speaking of the recent disorder in Northern Ireland, Ms Weir said: "This is taking me back to the days I don't want to remember.

"Not only do I not want to remember, we had a lot of families at that time being burnt out and seeing that on the TV last week, that has retraumatised a lot of families that actually went through that all them years ago."