Derry anti-racism rally told ‘far right not welcome’

Far-right elements will not be allowed to 'spread its hate' in Derry.

That was the message at an anti-racism rally held in the city centre this afternoon.

Demonstrators staged a rally in Guildhall Square after a planned anti-immigration rally was due to held there.

A poster titled ‘Time to Rise’ had been circulating online calling for peaceful protests against “mass, illegal unvetted immigration and the dangers it is bringing to our communities”.

Rallies were planned for Derry and Belfast, however organisers of the protest cancelled the Derry event on Friday evening.

In a statement, purportedly from the organisers, to Derry Now stated the event was cancelled due to safety concerns.

The statement read: "It is was anger and regret that we announce our peaceful demonstration in Guildhall Square, Derry/Londonderry has been cancelled.

"We the silent majority have attempted to organise a peaceful event to show the strength of feeling against the imposition of unvetted males into our communities.

"The violent radical left have done everything to create a confrontation in order to serve their NGO masters.

"We are not prepared to call our people on to the streets to potentially face violence from these bullying traitors."

At Sunday's anti-racism rally, demonstrators heard from the Mayor of Derry, Cllr Lilian Seenoi-Barr, People Before Profit councillor Shaun Harkin and United Against Racism's Davy McAuley.

Cllr Harkin told those gathered that it is "vital" to stay united against people seeking to spread hate.

"We want to build a city that is welcoming to all people," he said. "We don't want to be divided by hate. We don't want people to come here and stir up trouble.

"We don't want anything that we seen in Belfast and Dublin in recent years to happen in this city. It should never happen again in any city, town or village on this island.

"But it's important that we stand together. It's important that we unite and it's important that we build this type of unity."

Mayor of Derry, Cllr Lilian Seenoi-Barr said if people have 'genuine concerns' about services, then she would join with the public to protest at Stormont to 'fight for all of our rights'.

"To scapegoat immigrants because of a lack of action from our government to serve all of us, is not genuine and it is disgusting."

She added: "For anyone with any concerns about a lack of housing, come let us march together because that is what this city built - to fight for its rights of its people."

United Against Racism's Davy McAuley described the planned anti-immigration rally as a 'deliberate attempt' to bring a 'Tommy Robinson British far-right vibe' to Derry.

"They don't know Derry, the people doing this. They really don't," Mr McAuley said. "We are not going to stand for any of that nonsense."

See Derry Now's Facebook page for footage of the anti-racism rally.