Call for people to unite in fight against racism

IT is the duty of all people in Northern Ireland to unite to tackle racism, the Lord Mayor of Belfast told a rally yesterday.

Martin Morgan told a rally attended by around 500 people that society needed to act in unity to ensure that the city was "not dragged down by bigotry, hatred and intolerance".

Mr Morgan said there could be no selectivity about threats or violence from any group against sections of society.

The SDLP mayor said: "All political and community leaders and people with influence have a responsibility to speak out against such attacks whether they are racist or sectarian.

"We must not be selective but should condemn all acts of violence or threatening behaviour from whatever source, without reservation, as a scourge in our society.

"Neither is it the sole responsibility of politicians and government to address racism. Every man and woman has a leadership role to play in addressing racism. It may be by writing a letter to a paper, talking to a relative or empathising with victims or by joining groups.

"Our roles are limited but not irrelevant."

Yesterday's rally outside Belfast City Hall coincided with the city hosting the commemoration of Holocaust Memorial Day. It was organised by the Anti-Racism Network in conjunction with the trade union movement.

Among those who attended the rally were Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams and the party's chief negotiator Martin McGuinness, Progressive Unionist leader David Ervine, Eileen Bell, the deputy leader of the cross-community Alliance Party, senior Ulster Unionist Michael McGimpsey and SDLP Assembly members John Dallat, Alex Attwood and Patricia Lewsley.

Among those who addressed the rally were representatives of the Chinese and Islamic communities as well as Northern Ireland Commissioner for Children and Young People, Nigel Williams.

A statement was read at the rally which was endorsed by the main political parties in Northern Ireland, condemning racism and urging all sections of society to deal with the problem.

Anna Lo, of the Chinese Welfare Association, said during her address that her community had experienced racial abuse and attacks in recent years. She recalled the murder of Simon Tang in Carrickfergus in 1996.

She urged people in Northern Ireland not to let racism develop further and not to let Belfast become known as the racist capital of Europe.