Key facts
- Thousands attended an anti-racism rally at Belfast City Hall.
- The rally followed several nights of disorder targeting homes, businesses, and vehicles.
- The unrest was reportedly sparked by a widely shared video of a knife attack.
- Political parties and trade unions were represented at the peaceful protest.
- Speakers condemned racism and called for refugees to be welcomed.
Thousands of people gathered for an anti-racism rally at Belfast City Hall on Saturday, following several nights of disorder across the city. The unrest, which saw homes, businesses, and vehicles targeted, was reportedly sparked by the wide sharing of social media footage of a knife attack on Monday night.
The "Together Against Hate" rally commenced around 13:00, with police closing several roads to accommodate the large crowd. Representatives from various political parties and trade unions were present, holding banners with messages such as "Strike back against racism" and "Refugees welcome."
During the rally, speaker Ivanka Antova condemned the violence and the use of online platforms to incite hatred, stating, "The whole world watched Belfast in horror. There is nothing legitimate about racist pogroms, and racism has no place in our city." Solidarity was extended to volunteers who assisted affected communities.