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Around 200 people attended a protest last evening, 23 June, at Newry Town Hall. The protest, the first of its kind ever witnessed in Newry city was organised by a group called 'Newry Says No' via social media, with the reason given on their Facebook page being that it was "a peaceful protest against the illegal immigration’s happening all over Ireland." adding "It is time to stand up for our country against these men that are coming in and endangering women and children."
A sizeable police presence was visible and as the group assembled at the town hall so also did a counter protest group of around 20 people consisting of union representatives and members of the Workers Party. While one group loudly shouted 'Newry Says No' the other equally loudly shouted "refugees are welcome here". No local elected political representatives were at the event.
Following speeches from several Newry Says No protestors the group en-masse left round the side of the town hall and marched across Needham Bridge, down Merchants Quay and back around Sugar Island. Leading the procession was a group of young people waving tricolours, with several hiding their faces under hoodies.
The Workers Party issued a statement after the event. Representing the party Nichola Grant said "The racism that has been whipped up by far-right wing organisations across Northern Ireland is scandalous.
"Refugees and migrants are being scapegoated because of the failures of our government. Who have failed to deliver on their promises made in the programme for government. They have not delivered the homes people need, they have not delivered on the well-paid sustainable jobs, they have not delivered on health, education or on an anti-poverty strategy, or a bill of rights that would benefit all our citizens.
"None of these failures are the fault of any ethnic minority, this is a narrative of misinformation and lies spread by those who wish to see racial tension and violence. Refugees are fleeing wars and persecution and oppression in their homelands. Immigrants are here because they are needed to keep our healthcare system running, they are employed in jobs that local people do not want, and companies and the public sector have had to recruit from international workers."
Ms Grant continued "Refugees are not allowed to work and do not get benefits they live on a pittance there are just over 3000 refugees in Northern Ireland. They are not taking our houses, or jobs or our public services. Privatisation and fragmentation have done more to destroy our public services than refugees have.
The Workers Party representative finished by saying after all the problems we in Northern Ireland have suffered because of sectarianism where lives were lost and people's lives destroyed. Why would we engage in racism. "There can be no welcome in our society for racial hatred, the Workers Party was proud to stand shoulder to shoulder with those who oppose racism in any shape or form." she concluded.
