People Before Profit Councillor Shaun Harkin has challenged comments from the DUP Infrastructure Minister Gordon Lyons.
Lyons condemned the violence and racist intimidation but when on to say that the ‘legitimate concerns of the protesters should not be forgotten.’
Councillor Harkin said that Lyons should withdraw his remarks:
“How dare the DUP minister talk about the supposed legitimate concerns of racist thugs who attacked, battered and burned their way through Belfast.
This is disgusting victim blaming nonsense. There are no legitimate concerns within groups of fascist agitators and to pander to them while offering half hearted condemnation yet again shows us what the DUP are about.
There is no criminal situation when it is appropriate to suggest the victim played a part in their own suffering.
In a sensible place with rationality and empathy being applied to the subject of immigration, the comments of Gordon Lyons would cause outrage and he’d be quickly sacked from government.
People Before Profit will fight every waking hour to defend our friends and neighbours from racism.”