Racist attacks - Society as a whole is under threat

Attacks on Romanian families in Belfast are a haunting reminder of the 1960s when similar thugs engaged in attacks on Catholics, driving them from their homes. That mindless violence had repercussions for the whole island that were to last for decades.

Racial tensions boiled over during an attack on a rally in support of east European migrants early this week. Youths gave the Nazi salute and threw bottles at those taking part in a rally against racism.

Romanian families living in Belfast have had pages of Hitler’s Mein Kampf stuffed through their letterboxes. Police patrols have been increased in the affected areas in an effort to curb the violence, which has persisted throughout the week after festering for months.

Over a hundred Romanians were given sanctuary in a church after being driven out of their homes on the Lisburn Road, and the PSNI helped some 20 families, who have been given refuge in a leisure centre. The Deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland, Martin McGuinness, visited the afflicted families yesterday. He said that they must be convinced that they could live in peace in the North. “We are going to do everything in our power to ensure these criminals, these racist criminals, don’t have their way,” he insisted. All right-minded people with any sense of justice will welcome his comments.

Unfortunately, elements of racism against migrant workers have begun to appear in the rest of the island also, according to a director of Integrating Ireland. EU workers have been experiencing verbal abuse and discrimination. This may have more to do with a fear of foreigners than racism, but the impact is just the same. There is anecdotal evidence of immigrants experiencing greater levels discrimination than before.

The Cork-based Immigrant Support Centre has expressed concern that many racist incidents are not being reported. This makes it all the more difficult to deal with the problem. Immigrants should be encouraged to report discrimination. The National Consultative Committee on Racism and Interculturalism was essentially wound up by the emergency budget in April. The 12 members of the committee’s staff were laid off. This exhibits a disgraceful lack of concern for what could become a real problem.

In past centuries Irish people sought economic refuge throughout the world. We should extend the same courtesies to immigrants coming here in search of an honest living. Positive efforts should be made to allow these people to integrate fully into Irish society. Allowing their marginalisation encourages unscrupulous elements to exploit them, and fosters demagoguery.

Ultimately, Irish society as a whole will be the loser if racism is allowed to foster. It is a cancer that must be cut out.