Published on 6/13/2026
Thousands of demonstrators gathered today, Saturday, in the center of the city of Belfast, Northern Ireland, to participate in an anti-racism march, in response to the riots and attacks that targeted immigrants and their property during the past days following a stabbing incident that raised widespread tensions in the city.
The march began at one o’clock in the afternoon local time in front of the Belfast City Hall, at the invitation of the “United Against Racism” movement, under the slogan “Together Against Hate”, amid wide participation of activists and representatives of civil and trade union organizations and political parties.
The square surrounding the municipal building and the adjacent streets witnessed the gathering of large crowds raising banners calling for rejection of racism and solidarity with immigrants and minorities, in a scene that reflected a state of community mobilization to confront the anti-immigration rhetoric that has escalated in recent days.
Participants chanted slogans including “Refugees are welcome here,” “Racists go home,” and “Riots do not represent Belfast,” stressing that the city must remain a space for coexistence and diversity, away from hatred and targeting on the basis of race or origin.
The event also witnessed solidarity speeches delivered by representatives of migrant communities, human rights organizations, and civil society activists, during which they stressed the need to protect targeted groups and hold accountable those responsible for acts of violence and incitement.
Extensive messages of support
The speakers declared their solidarity with the families whose homes were burned or threatened during the recent unrest, while representatives of political parties participated in the march, along with union leaders from the Irish Congress of Trade Unions.
These movements come after days of unrest in Belfast and other areas after a Sudanese refugee was accused of attempted murder following a stabbing incident that occurred over the weekend, a case that police confirmed is still under investigation.
The riots resulted in the burning of homes, cars, and public property, in addition to targeting areas inhabited by immigrants, while police forces were pelted with projectiles during their attempts to contain the unrest.
These events sparked a wave of widespread political condemnation, as local and British officials described them as unjustifiable acts of racism, calling for the protection of the population and not to exploit a criminal incident to incite divisions and hatred.
On the other hand, there have been increasing calls from human rights organizations and community leaders to confront misinformation and inflammatory rhetoric that has spread through social media platforms, after it was considered one of the factors that contributed to fueling recent tensions.
