The Belfast Anti Racist Rally

by anti racist Tue Jan 27, 2004 16:33

keep up the good work

by Unity is Strength Tue Jan 27, 2004 16:47

The momentum cannot be lost well done to the ARN in its work and solidarity with black people and all of us who struggle against the lies and brutality of the far right.

This rally can only be a jumping off point for campaigns to isolate and destroy the BNP and its idelogical allies in the ruling class.

Black and White Unite.

by pat c Tue Jan 27, 2004 16:57

did socialist democracy have a banner at the rally or were they busy writing up another denunciation of davy?

by hs - sp Tue Jan 27, 2004 18:29

great to see so many out and from both communities. keep up the good work!

by curious Tue Jan 27, 2004 18:53

Were any of the party leaders or MLAs present?

by belfaster Tue Jan 27, 2004 21:09

Loads of big party leader in attendance, Also CP and WP.

by reverend joe - ministry of misinformation Tue Jan 27, 2004 22:01 leaveit at that dot com

Fair play to the people of belfast for getting out on the streets against racism today, a great turnout.

It may have slipped the speakers minds but these attacks are planned and carried out by loyalist paramilitaries and the UPRG rep. gave a pathetic excuse for this.

Isn't it hypocritical that these same paramilitaries carried out a protracted campaign of attacks and intimidation on short strand over a period of 8 months and not a peep from a single trendy lefty.

For them its easy to pass off these attacks as
tit for tat sectarianism then they don't have to worry about it , anyway how could they possibly remain trendy if they actually had to deal with the realities that exist in the six counties

I don't want to take away from the great work done by the Anti Racist Network, But there is a common element to all these attacks and that is Loyalist paramilitarism.

by Q Wed Jan 28, 2004 00:47

Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams MP today joined the anti-racism rally at Belfast City Hall. Speaking from the event Mr Adams said that all of those in political leadership had 'a duty to stand up against the racists and the bigots who were bring terror to the ethnic minority communities in the city'.

Mr Adams said:

"On countless occasions in the past I have joined rallies in this city to demand Human Rights and Civil Rights. Today's event is no different. The Ethnic Minority Community in this city are part of our fabric and they must be defended and protected. Their rights as citizens must be upheld and they must be allowed to live their lives in peace without the threat of racist attack or abuse.

"All of us in political leadership in this city have a duty and an obligation to stand up against the racists and the bigots who have been engaged in an organised campaign of intimidation against ethnic minority communities in this city.

" Today's rally must not be the end, it must be the start of us confronting and tackling racism and sectarianism fron whatever quarter. I commend the organisers of today's march and pledge the support of Sinn Féin representatives and activists to tackle the issue of racism in the time ahead."

by observer Wed Jan 28, 2004 09:47

Was there now??

Would it not in fact be the case that Gerry Adams was the only "big party" leader there?
You can be certain that if SF hadn't had a presence that we would hear all about it. Typical..

by Belfast ARN Wed Jan 28, 2004 11:30

On a freezing cold quiet lunchtime at the end of January approx 2000 people turned up to the ARN rally. Below is a summary of some in attendence.

In attendance at the rally from the political parties and {organisations} they included UPRG members and top loyalists ,Tommy Kirkham, Frankie Gallagher, Frank McCoubrey and Jackie MC Donald, also David Irvine from the PUP and Eileen Bell and Sara Duncan from the Alliance party were there. Gerry Adams and Martin MaGuiness from Sinn Fein , the SDLP's Alex Attwood, John Dallat and Patricia Lewsley and the Ulster Unionist parties Michael Mc Gimpsey was also in attendence as was the DUP, SWP, CP, IRSP WP SP and others.

While this representation at 'any rally' would be unprecedented by its sheer make up, the ARN also had managed to get a cross party statement read out from the platform of SF the DUP, SDLP and UUP all signing up to a joint statement along with Alliance.

Trade union banners and trades council banners were there in force , Trades Union Councils banners, NIPSA, NAFHE, FBU, Unison etc stood beside human rights banners such as Amnesty International, student banners stood beside ethnic minority banners, party politcal banners stood beside home made banners which read 'Don't be blind to racism, 'stamp out racism' or even Loyalists against racism.

Community banners held by leading working class community activists who came from the Falls and Andersonstown Roads others from the Shankill or the Village and Sandy Row areas were also representated.

Men women and children, black and white stood united, Catholic, Protestant, Muslim , Hindu, Atheist, members of the Chinese, Ugandan, Zimbabwean, Pakistani, Indian, Romamian and Travelling community and many others all stood together under the ARN banner of standing shoulder to shoulder together against the race hate attacks.

For the ARN although we have did much to date as an activists based network, this is though just the begining as we now look to expand around and outside Belfast.

by observer Wed Jan 28, 2004 12:12

Much the better report on the event. BTW, congratulations to all concerned on what was an impressive display.

by Goboy Wed Jan 28, 2004 16:49

Nach bhfuil camera digitail agaibh?!!!

by soundmigration Wed Jan 28, 2004 17:28

congratulations to all the individuals and groups involved in putting this event together. Its is really heartening and inspiring to see activism in belfast growing and coalessing, tackling issues that undermine and affect us all. Solidarity has often been the call sirens for disparate political/sectarian groups in the north, my home until 2 years ago. how encouraging it is to see that together, whatever our views on soveriegnty{ still havent found a bunch of leaders anywhere on this planet that dont feel they must show us, the people, how to constuct and live our lives} that it is collectively and with individual involvement of our own creativity, our collective expression at injustice inequality and its children fear bigotry intolerence. there is much room in this world for us to get organised and this is a struggle that we are all part of and effected regardless of our decision to get involved or not...

the time is always now, and through processes involved in the organising events the rally and the many other events/protests/partys across the north, the rest of this small but passion filled island, europe and this world our vioces shall we heard, and the empowerment of real shared solidarity will enliven our hearts minds and lives
more more and always more

by inextricablylinked Wed Jan 28, 2004 19:38

I attended the rally yesterday in belfast, it was freezing and fair play to all who attended, but it was not enough , more people should've been there, if I was watching from further away I would say the small attendance is proof the north is racist, also wonder about some of the community leaders attending, the racist attacks came from their communities, they should have encouraged their own people to attend, showing their own faces is not enough. The pa was not loud enough and a handful of dry speeches that most attending couldn't hear is not enough It should be a openair carnival celebrating diversity and multiculturalism, that will probably come... Sadly ,we are still a very white community and racism will unfortunatley rise. Will those community leaders and politicans who attended the rally learn from history and prevent the mistakes of turning their own against the arriving immigrants, who fills the prison cells of Maghaberry prison today?

by ARN member Thu Jan 29, 2004 09:20

Yes as in all rallies more people should have been there but for those that attended it offered inspiration and an opportunity to show both a united stand against the racial attacks and to offer collective solidarity for those who wish to take practical initiatives.

What does that mean, well on last night BBC Northern Ireland their top story was of localised community organisations collectively stating that they will withdraw funds from Loyalist Ex prisioners groups if the attacks did not cease completely. Then in todays Irish news some whom are involved in the ARN have now established a support network for nurses, the meeting had over 120 nurses from ethnic minority backrounds from around Belfast, again to offer collective support, especially as nurses from the Phippipines have been particular targets of the thugs.

So of course the rally could have seen more people there. But that rally and the collective nature of the ARN provided and provides both that inspiration and collective solidarity, that has and will give in part others the strength to speak out. And also to begin to organise against the brutal attacks.

As for other events there has already been agreed by the ARN to host music gigs around the North with a view in the summer to host a large carnival concert event. If persons have ideas as to how the ARN can keep moving forward or have any practical suggestions on other issues then come along, raise them, and get involved.

To date in the last few days we have had e-mails from all around the place by those who have been both inspired and who want to get involved. So we welcome all who wish to stand with us.

by Well Done Thu Jan 29, 2004 17:22

Maybe so and putting to the side those 'diverse' persons who attended the rally, which would of course make it unprecedented on that point in Northern Ireland politics, and good to see it. Would it not also be one of the biggest against racial and fascist attacks though? I know there was one in the early eighties with a thousand against the NF. Where are the historians and statisticians when you need them? The important point though is that people turned out in large numbers, a good situation is it not?

by Socialist Thu Jan 29, 2004 18:49

Read Davy Carlin in the Irish Times today which is now calling the Anti racist network a movement. Looking forward to reading Daves round table discussions with loyalists [ the protestant working class] in the process of building the movement in the Blanket soon

by inexticablylinked Thu Jan 29, 2004 21:01

Yes goboy insists there should be pictures, for why u require these, nil me cinnte? but yes it would be nice to get visuals on the action. small and white as it was

by Anti-fascist Thu Jan 29, 2004 21:21

"In attendance at the rally from the political parties and {organisations} they included UPRG members and top loyalists ,Tommy Kirkham, Frankie Gallagher, Frank McCoubrey and Jackie MC Donald, also David Irvine from the PUP and Eileen Bell and Sara Duncan from the Alliance party were there. Gerry Adams and Martin MaGuiness from Sinn Fein , the SDLP's Alex Attwood, John Dallat and Patricia Lewsley and the Ulster Unionist parties Michael Mc Gimpsey was also in attendence as was the DUP, SWP, CP, IRSP WP SP and others.

While this representation at 'any rally' would be unprecedented by its sheer make up, the ARN also had managed to get a cross party statement read out from the platform of SF the DUP, SDLP and UUP all signing up to a joint statement along with Alliance."

Seems that the SWP have formed an unholy alliance with the capitalist politicians who are responsible for the racism in the first place! Is it true that a British government representative was there from that great anti-immigrant party of New Labour?
All this will do is sow illusions that the right wing establishment parties who scapegoat immigrants in the first place and nuture racism and division are going to actually fight against it!

by Anti Fascist/Anti Socialist Thu Jan 29, 2004 21:28

"Loyalists Against Racism" Good to see you're still doing comedy on Indymedia.

by ARN member Fri Jan 30, 2004 09:44

The physical attacks have all but ceased in the Village area, the ARN built a brilliant rally which has gave inspiration to others to speak out and get organised, with now seeing the local community groups putting pressure on the paramiitaries to also seeing ethnic minority nurses getting organised . The whole issue of race was also raised not only around Ireland but around the world due to the immense international interest

Such was the collective and united stand of the ARN it had also put loyalists on the back foot and even seen them having to attend an anti racist rally, Whether or not people agree with loyalism all those who understand the politics of Northern Ireland will realise that the fact that they had to attend is a good thing not a bad thing. Having also a cross party statement again not an easy thing to come by and for those who know the nature of Northern Ireland politics again realise this is a good thing not a bad thing.

The physical brutal localised attacks have all but ceased, the ARN's immediate priority, a good thing not a bad thing eh?.

by Karl Sun Oct 12, 2008 13:42

Andi Ali was also at this protest. Have you heard about him? This is the guy who ended up on Redwatch because of his academic research on the BNP. He had also been recently assulted by the British Ulster Alliance, (a front for the UDA), outside Downing Street. Brave fella! The UDA were there and could have taken him out anytime. Ali is a brave fella I think.

by Jenny Sun Nov 02, 2008 14:02

I,ve heard of Andi Ali. Isn't he the guy who is on every nazi hitlist going? Whats the UDA after him for?

by Prodgirl Fri Nov 14, 2008 16:31

Me too! I actually saw him at the rally.