Racist attacks in Belfast

[K.Bullstreet]

Youths attack anti-racist protest


http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/45929000/jpg/_45929724_rally1.jpg People from the area came to show their opposition to the racist attacks


A group of youths has attacked an anti-racist demonstration which was taking place in south Belfast. Residents held a demonstration on the Lisburn Road on Monday night following a spate of attacks on immigrant families living in the area.
A group of youths leaving a bar were heckled by demonstrators and ran into an alley where they threw bottles.
They ran off, but came back and threw more bottles before being chased away. No-one was injured in the incident.
Police were called to the scene, but the crowds dispersed peacefully and the area now appears to be quiet.
Organiser Paddy Meehan said there had been continual attacks from Wednesday.
"People are absolutely livid about what has been happening here and it has to stop," he said.
"This protest has sent a clear message that people do not want this going on in their area and that this has to stop right now."
Demonstrators had shouted "Nazis off our streets" as the youths passed and the youths gave Nazi salutes.

http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/45925000/jpg/_45925363_racisthouseattack1_lewis.jpg A gang smashed windows at this house in south Belfast

The Alliance Party's Anna Lo said that the trouble at the rally was a "disgrace" but that those throwing bottles were "a small minority".
"We are all here to show support for the migrant workers who have been attacked and have been hounded out from one street to another street," she said.
Earlier, two houses inhabited by a Romanian family were targeted in a racist attack.
A gang smashed windows and terrorised pregnant women and children in attacks on houses on Belgravia and Wellesley avenues.
Police have said they are investigating racist incidents and criminal damage in both areas over the last four days.
It was claimed that the people who attacked the house were shouting Combat 18 slogans and a letter containing text from Hitler's Mein Kampf was pushed through the letterbox of one of the properties.
There have been racial tensions in the area since trouble erupted at a World Cup qualifier between Northern Ireland and Poland at Windsor Park in March.
A number of migrant families subsequently decided to leave their homes.

Taken from ~
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/8102036.stm

[1968]

more here: http://www.indymedia.ie/article/92729

[K.Bullstreet]

Cheers for that 1968. Do you know if anything else is being planned or has any more news come out of it? And do you know if AFA have been involved at all?

[BOZG]

http://www.u.tv/UTVMediaPlayer/Default.aspx?vidid=122204&chapid=100998&arti_id=136df8b0-1d9a-4331-b915-1266328ac39d

[Redmau5]

Many of the Romanian families have been forced to take shelter in a church hall in south Belfast.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/8104287.stm

[BOZG]

Didn't see your mug in that video?

[Redmau5]

Didn't see your mug in that video?

Yea I was hoping to get down but couldn't because of work.

[Sean]

If theres a second allnighter planned today, give me a shout before the days out and I'll see if I can make it up there myself

[K.Bullstreet]

Seems like a dire situation. Anybody know whats happening to the families that slept in the church over night?

It's encouraging to see people willing to defend the houses and the communities, top marks if any of you are involved.

[Pogue]

Apparently now about 100 odd families are in temporary shelters. Loyalist groups are behind this, no doubt, although the BCB says this is unconfirmed. It wouldn't suprise me.

I hope some groups start doing something about this.

[rednordman]

Though things seem to be bad these days, i'm actually lost for words at this. They quite literally have displaced these romanian families. It reminds me a little bit of kristalnacht, but much much smaller. Absolutly shocking. I wonder what sort of response this is going to get over the rest of the UK?

[Pogue]

Though things seem to be bad these days, i'm actually lost for words at this. They quite literally have displaced these romanian families. It reminds me a little bit of kristalnacht, but much much smaller. Absolutly shocking. I wonder what sort of response this is going to get over the rest of the UK?

Do you mean you fear it spreading to other areas? Because I was worried about this, but I don't think it'll happen.

[Killfacer]

Hang on, why did the demo heckle the kids leaving the bar?

[ls]

Killfacer
Demonstrators had shouted "Nazis off our streets" as the youths passed and the youths gave Nazi salutes.

Well I hope the community and other anti-racists keep pro-actively fighting this, good work.

[Killfacer]

Killfacer

Well I hope the community and other anti-racists keep pro-actively fighting this, good work.

This is a result of my not bothering to read the article. :(

[Redmau5]

Apparently the Romanian families are to be rehoused in another area of south Belfast, although from what I've heard it's pretty clear that most of the families want to leave Belfast and Northern Ireland altogether.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/8105488.stm


Also, how do the CWI reconcile this with their support for the PUP / UVF? Surely the two are contradictions

You really do have a fetish about this.

[rednordman]

Do you mean you fear it spreading to other areas? Because I was worried about this, but I don't think it'll happen. Well there is that thought, but I was thinking about whether or not people will 'come out the closet' and feel that this is a sign that it is now acceptable to be racists. What im saying is that, at the current moment, im not sure exactly how bad racism is in our society. I have my assumptions, but cannot come to anything concrete just yet. I am a little bit worried, but I too doubt that the violence will spread to other areas. It does give them something as an inspiration though:thumbdown:, I bet stormfronts buzzing right now:(.

[libyan_geezer]

quote from Nick Griffin on BNP website:

“I am quite sure that the people of Belfast are reacting to what they see as provocation from the Gypsy invasion of their city, and while I cannot support their reaction, I think that it was fairly predictable, given what everyone knows about Eastern Europe’s Gypsy population."

So Gri££in is trying to say that it was ordinary law abiding citizens of Belfast who attacked the Romanians and not his fascist friends from Combat 18? God, this man makes me wanna puke all over my keyboard:cursing:

[Girl A]

quote from Nick Griffin on BNP website:

“I am quite sure that the people of Belfast are reacting to what they see as provocation from the Gypsy invasion of their city, and while I cannot support their reaction, I think that it was fairly predictable, given what everyone knows about Eastern Europe’s Gypsy population."

So Gri££in is trying to say that it was ordinary law abiding citizens of Belfast who attacked the Romanians and not his fascist friends from Combat 18? God, this man makes me wanna puke all over my keyboard:cursing:


Does this man have a speck of decency? People harrassed, one man stabbed and children threatened and all he can think about is immigration?

[Fietsketting]

Damn if i read this I really feel the urge to come over for a week.

[Black_Flag]

Really saddens me to see this but I'm not too surprised to be honested, were we not branded "Race Hate Capital" of Europe a while back? Fair play to everyone who made it to the protests etc. Couldnt make it up myself because of work.

[Dr Mindbender]

Damn i need to get over there.

Fucking work. :(

[Pogue]

if things esculate i'd be there tbh, but thats if shit rly kicked off and they needed more bodies badly, to help defend the romanians and stuff, help out

[BOZG]

Organiser of residents anti-racist protest receives death threat

18 June 2009

One of the residents who organised a protest on Monday on the Lisburn Rd area of Belfast in defence of Romanian families has received a death threat.


The PSNI communicated the threat to Paddy Meehan who came to the assistance of Romanian families after racist attacks in South Belfast.


The message reads "Police are in receipt of anonymous information which states that persons unknown intend to firebomb the home of Patrick Meehan. This is believed to be connected to your recent involvement in protests about Romanian nationals."


Mr Meehan issued a statement tonight "This threat reveals the type of people who have been carrying out the racist attacks. They are a small hardcore group of fascists who are scapegoating immigrant workers to build a base of support. Hitlers Nazis were at one point a tiny minority who initially targetted ethnic minoroties. Their aim is to take away all democratic rights. It is important that local communities are mobilised to defeat these groups now while they are small and that is exactly what I and other local residents are now determined to do."

[pastradamus]

It seems to me Loyalism has changed direction and is now targeting other minorities rather than just republican area's. Hate breeds hate. Nick Griffin deserves to be hung for his comments. Not a shread of humanity in the man as he clearly identified them as "gypsies" and not as people who were victims of attacks by the thugs he and his party does so well to keep alive.

[Melbourne Lefty]

Nick Griffin deserves to be hung for his comments.


Personally I say he would deserve to be "Hanged"...:lol:

But what did old one eye have to say about it? I didnt hear.

[BOZG]

It seems to me Loyalism has changed direction and is now targeting other minorities rather than just republican area's.

There was an interesting article a few years back criticising Republican groups for trying to capitalise on the fact that most of the racist attacks happening at the time were happening in unionist areas. There was a certain glee amongst the Republican leadership because they were able to use the attacks as an attack on Unionism but the author argued that a significant factor in the attacks was that the majority of migrant workers tended to live in Unionist areas and that they believed that the same racism would occur in Nationalist areas if there was an increase in migrants living in the area. I've been trying to find it but I can't remember anything of the title at all.

Edit: Found the article. In fact, it was a quote from Gerry Adams about the attitude in Republican areas:

http://www.irr.org.uk/2004/february/ak000008.html

[pastradamus]

Personally I say he would deserve to be "Hanged"...:lol:

But what did old one eye have to say about it? I didnt hear.

Haha, Theres always one! :D

[K.Bullstreet]

Back on topic...police have been carrying out a number of raids and have made two arrests so far in connection with the attacks. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/8109877.stm

[Dr Mindbender]

According to yesterday's Irish news, one of the UDA top dogs were distancing themselves from the attacks and were blaming the BNP/C18.

Wether or not this is just a clever ploy on their part remains to be seen i suppose.

[Melbourne Lefty]

BNP has no-one in NI and I seriously doubt it has anything to do with C18.

It was a bunch of kids who didnt like Roma, from news reports it looks like there were 30 of them who decided to do a run through in the Roma area and put the frighteners on.

To claim this was organised is a little far fetched I think. Just idiot kids being idiot kids. Its not as if there is any community or organisation backing them up.

[PRC-UTE]

BNP has no-one in NI and I seriously doubt it has anything to do with C18.

It was a bunch of kids who didnt like Roma, from news reports it looks like there were 30 of them who decided to do a run through in the Roma area and put the frighteners on.

To claim this was organised is a little far fetched I think. Just idiot kids being idiot kids. Its not as if there is any community or organisation backing them up.

It was almost certainly organised by Loyalist paramilitaries. The attackers came from an area that the UDA controls, the Village. It's just not being mentioned much because it would be impolitic at a time when the two worst loyalist death squads are handing in gear. That would also go a long way towards explaining why the police did fuck all.

They basically admitted it was their people when they started whining about the poor attackers don't have anything to do, so they (the UDA) should be getting funding to take these vicious bastards on a trip - to Poland! :lol::(

And it's not true the BNP has no-one in the six counties. That leaked list named BNP members in the o6c- who were almost exclusively in Loyalist districts as well.

This is a natural activity for Loyalism. Loyalism, as a blood n soil nationalist ideology has to maintain the purity of its turf.

[Melbourne Lefty]

It was almost certainly organised by Loyalist paramilitaries. The attackers came from an area that the UDA controls, the Village. It's just not being mentioned much because it would be impolitic at a time when the two worst loyalist death squads are handing in gear. That would also go a long way towards explaining why the police did fuck all.


Hmmmm.... that would make sense.

I didnt know the people were from the Village, i thought they were locals [as in directly from around the flats].



And it's not true the BNP has no-one in the six counties. That leaked list named BNP members in the o6c- who were almost exclusively in Loyalist districts as well.


Yeah but they have been chased away by the loyalists years ago havent they?

[Sasha]

nah, as far as i can rember their official branch got chased out by the loyalist after the UVF/UDA fued and the UDA/UFF split as they where seen as part of the Johnny Adair lot but they always mantained an unofficial precence/members in the loyalist comunity

[GracchusBabeuf]

.

[rednordman]

http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Guardian/Pix/pictures/2009/6/18/1245310653211/Romanians-leave-a-Belfast-003.jpg

Romanians leave their homes in Belfast following a series of racist attacks. Photograph: Reuters

Romanians leave Belfast after racist attacks

Twenty-five Romanians who were the victims of racist intimidation in Belfast left Northern Ireland (http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/northernireland) today, with 75 others due to leave later this week.

The Stormont social development minister, Margaret Ritchie, confirmed earlier today that 100 of a group of 114 who had been targeted in racist attacks wanted to return to Romania (http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/romania).

Ritchie said only 14 of the Romanians subjected to the attacks – a family of seven and seven single men – had opted to remain in Belfast.

"I deeply regret that, but it is a matter of personal choice," the SDLP minister said.

Ritchie added that the Romanians' decision to leave "runs against our aims to build a shared future within Northern Ireland".

She said funds from the Northern Ireland housing executive had been found to cover the cost of flying the 100 Romanians home. Last week, the Romanian consul said his country had no plans to pay for the flights.

Meanwhile, the Belfast church in which the Romanians took shelter after the attacks has been vandalised.

Seven windows in the Belfast City church were smashed and the front door damaged in the attack, which happened overnight.

Police are examining footage from a community safety video camera that points directly towards the church. They believe the vandals may have been caught on film.
The church's pastor, Malcolm Morgan, said the building's interior was covered in broken glass.

"I arrived this morning to find windows smashed at the front of our church and our main doorway smashed as well," he said.

"Stones were lying scattered on the floor inside and outside, and ... broken glass was everywhere.

"It would be easy to conclude it was carried out by someone who didn't like our response to the Romanians, but that is only guesswork."

He said the church had been "thrilled that we were able to respond to the Romanian situation ... these broken windows wouldn't have stopped us anyway".

As forensic teams searched the area around the church, a member of the public interrupted an interview Morgan was giving to a local television station and handed him an envelope containg cash to go towards repair work.

Last week, the church, in the university area of the city, gave emergency shelter to 20 Romanian families who had been driven from their homes near Lisburn Road.
The families are now in a secret location in the city under armed police guard.

A 21-year-old man will appear in a Belfast court later today charged with intimidation and threatening behaviour.

The charges are understood to be connected to the attacks on two south Belfast properties where Romanian families were living.

Two teenagers from the south of the city have already been charged in relation to the attacks.

Beyond Belfast, a Polish family with a four-year-old son have left their home in Moygashel, County Tyrone, after an attack on the building.

Bricks were thrown at the house and two cars vandalised in the attack, which happened early yesterday.

Stones and bricks were also thrown at a house occupied by a Lithuanian family in the same area.


http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2009/jun/23/romanians-belfast-racist-attacks The fascists won:mad:.

[Sean]

While its easy to blame the loyalists, this kind of shit also exists in nationalist/republican areas too. The only difference is that association with the British Nationalist party sticks in their throats. Theres no point pretending that its all rainbows and puppydogs on our side, we have assholes in equal measure, its simply the monopoly on racism that loyalists have that keeps them less vocal, but the sentiment is still there.

[Dr Mindbender]

While its easy to blame the loyalists, this kind of shit also exists in nationalist/republican areas too. The only difference is that association with the British Nationalist party sticks in their throats. Theres no point pretending that its all rainbows and puppydogs on our side, we have assholes in equal measure, its simply the monopoly on racism that loyalists have that keeps them less vocal, but the sentiment is still there.

Its interesting that you say that and it may well be the case, but isnt it also the case that in nationalist areas there would tend to be a higher level of vigilance against racism via leftist bodies like the IRSM?

The orange and paisley-ite shitheads in the unionist side couldnt give a toss, many are probably silently approving the attacks but don't have it in them to come out and admit it.

[Sean]

Its interesting that you say that and it may well be the case, but isnt it also the case that in nationalist areas there would tend to be a higher level of vigilance against racism via leftist bodies like the IRSM?

The orange and paisley-ite shitheads in the unionist side couldnt give a toss, many are probably silently approving the attacks but don't have it in them to come out and admit it.
Its certainly the case that the left wing is more evident among the nominal catholic community yes, but my point is that a tacit rejection of racism now isnt the same as across the board support. Northern Ireland is one of the most hateful places in Europe, we're an intolerant breed. So while we can point the finger at the bluenoses for now, the reality is that even the quasi socialists believe that all problems can be sorted by getting rid of migrants.

[PRC-UTE]

While its easy to blame the loyalists, this kind of shit also exists in nationalist/republican areas too. The only difference is that association with the British Nationalist party sticks in their throats. Theres no point pretending that its all rainbows and puppydogs on our side, we have assholes in equal measure, its simply the monopoly on racism that loyalists have that keeps them less vocal, but the sentiment is still there.

I don't know that racism is as prevalent in the nationalist/catholic community. I wouldn't think so at all, tbh. Anti-immigrant sentiment doesn't seem as common as in Loyalist areas.

However Derry, which as you know is primarily nationalist, is also known for extreme homophobia. very violent like. sounds strange to say, but it almost seems like the kinds of bigotry in each community are directed at different targets.

MelbourneLefty:

Yeah but they have been chased away by the loyalists years ago havent they?

That's true. The BNP have stayed very under the radar in the six counties, and many Loyalists distance themselves from nazis as well.

[Melbourne Lefty]

nah, as far as i can rember their official branch got chased out by the loyalist after the UVF/UDA fued and the UDA/UFF split as they where seen as part of the Johnny Adair lot but they always mantained an unofficial precence/members in the loyalist comunity

Thats worrying, I thought the BNP got their arses handed to them by loyalist groups that were sick of the bad publicity.

They dont run council candidates in the 6 counties though, thats something.