28.10.04
Irelandclick.com
West is lowest for race hate attacks
West Belfast residents received a boost ahead of this Saturday’s anti-racism rally in the city centre with the news that new figures reveal that incidents of race hate crime in the west of the city are the lowest in Belfast – with just one recorded racial attack over a three-month period.
Four homophobic attacks were also reported over the same three-month period from April to June of this year – again drastically lower than in the rest of the city.
The figures were revealed during a recent meeting of the West Belfast DPP.
In South Belfast, over 70 incidents of race hate were reported over the same three-month period.
David Carlin of the Anti-racist Network welcomed the figures.
“It is positive to see that in West Belfast the number of racist and homophobic attacks remain low in comparison with the rest of the city and the North as a whole.
“Again, while this is positive, it is worth remembering that attacks can happen at any time or place.
“It is good to see that the message that is being promoted by the local branch of the Anti-Racist Network is getting through.
“There is a lot of positive work being done and this shows that when a local community takes collective action the result is a positive one.”
The ARN has planned a mass rally this Saturday in Belfast city centre, the West Belfast feeder march will assemble in Roden Street on Saturday at 1pm.
David Carlin added: “We would encourage as many people as possible to attend, to send a clear visual message out from the west of the city that racism will not be tolerated in any of its forms.”
Journalist:: Allison Morris
West is lowest for race hate attacks
West Belfast residents received a boost ahead of this Saturday’s anti-racism rally in the city centre with the news that new figures reveal that incidents of race hate crime in the west of the city are the lowest in Belfast – with just one recorded racial attack over a three-month period.
Four homophobic attacks were also reported over the same three-month period from April to June of this year – again drastically lower than in the rest of the city.
The figures were revealed during a recent meeting of the West Belfast DPP.
In South Belfast, over 70 incidents of race hate were reported over the same three-month period.
David Carlin of the Anti-racist Network welcomed the figures.
“It is positive to see that in West Belfast the number of racist and homophobic attacks remain low in comparison with the rest of the city and the North as a whole.
“Again, while this is positive, it is worth remembering that attacks can happen at any time or place.
“It is good to see that the message that is being promoted by the local branch of the Anti-Racist Network is getting through.
“There is a lot of positive work being done and this shows that when a local community takes collective action the result is a positive one.”
The ARN has planned a mass rally this Saturday in Belfast city centre, the West Belfast feeder march will assemble in Roden Street on Saturday at 1pm.
David Carlin added: “We would encourage as many people as possible to attend, to send a clear visual message out from the west of the city that racism will not be tolerated in any of its forms.”
Journalist:: Allison Morris
