Now is the time for the trade union movement and civil society to mobilise in tens of thousands in a show of strength to face down the far right
The scenes in Belfast on Saturday of Dublin Far Right agitators marching with loyalist paramilitaries shows who the far right are, says People Before Profit.
People Before Profit MLA Gerry Carroll said “We are proud to have stood with United Against Racism and many other anti-racists organisations on Saturday in Belfast. At short notice we mobilised to ensure the racists were outnumbered. But there is a dangerous far-right minority and one of our own party activists was injured yesterday by fireworks thrown by racist thugs. Racists roamed Belfast city centre attacking businesses, particularly those run by people from migrant communities and carried out racist attacks against minority communities in South Belfast. Saturday’s events demonstrate once again the urgent need for mobilisations to face down the growing far-right threat”.
Bríd Smith TD said “The sight of far-right agitators from Dublin alongside loyalist paramilitaries, including at least one known sectarian murderer, demonstrates very clearly to everyone who the far right in Dublin and elsewhere are. They are determined racists, some filmed giving Nazi salutes, who work closely with the British far right, people like Tommy Robinson, as well as US white supremacist groups”.
Paul Murphy TD said “We saw self-proclaimed Irish patriots standing side by side with loyalist paramilitaries who have a long history of British state collusion and sectarian murder campaigns against Catholics across the North. This is exactly who these so-called patriots are. These are the people who have carried out arson attacks on dozens of buildings intended, or rumoured to be intended to accommodate asylum seekers. They are the people behind the riot in Dublin in November, in Newtownmountkennedy in April and the multiple arson attacks in Coolock in recent weeks. They must be stopped.”
People Before Profit Councillor (Ballymun-Finglas) and Dublin North West area representative, Conor Reddy said “Asylum seekers were attacked with hammers and knives in Finglas on Friday. This followed immediately after the National Party and other racists recorded themselves threatening those asylum seekers in their tents. Anger and frustration that has been building for years because of neglect of communities is being exploited by racists who couldn’t care less about our communities. The longer they go unchallenged the worse this will get. We urgently need a united front against racism”.
Bríd Smith said “Now is the time for the trade union movement and civil society to mobilise in tens of thousands in a show of strength to face down the far right. We cannot wait – the threat is growing by the week. We call on the ICTU to call a national anti-far right demonstration and for all people who are appalled by what is happening to stand against the hate and division of the far right and to demand housing, health and care services for all”.