‘There is fear in my home’: Up to 2,000 attend anti-racism march in Dublin

Thousands marched through Dublin on Sunday to protest against racism, with speakers warning that immigrant communities are living in fear due to the rise of racist rhetoric in Irish society. The United Against Racism march, which proceeded from the GPO on O'Connell Street to the Custom House, was organized in response to days of violent demonstrations and rioting in Belfast. These disturbances, described by Dublin protesters as a "racist pogrom," led to homes and cars being set ablaze.

“

In the moments we keep quiet, racism grows.

Organizers estimated that up to 2,000 people participated in the Dublin march, though independent confirmation was unavailable. Politicians and members of minority community groups addressed the crowd. Bissa Kembetia, president of the Irish Congolese Community, shared his community's recent fear, stating, "I have been here for more than 20 years, Irish [people] are not racist – they welcome us. But now, all of a sudden, everything has changed. There is fear in my face, in my heart, in my home."

“

I have been here for more then 20 years, Irish [people] are not racist – they welcome us. But now, all of a sudden, everything has changed. There is fear in my face, in my heart, in my home.

Kembetia expressed gratitude for the turnout, seeing it as a sign of welcome for immigrants, despite noting a lower presence of people of color in the crowd, some of whom reportedly refrained from attending due to fears of being "singled out." He emphasized the urgency of collective action, saying, "In the moments we keep quiet, racism grows. We need to stand against racism."

“

I am scared. But I am not scared when I see you all standing here.

Paul O'Boyle drew parallels between the current targeting of immigrants and the historical treatment of Catholics in 1970s Belfast, recalling a time when "pogroms were things you did to the ‘others.’"

“

People are scared.