Thousands march against racism in Belfast after anti-immigrant riots

Thousands gathered in Belfast on Saturday to condemn the anti-immigrant rioters who set fire to homes and vehicles earlier in the week. The violence erupted after a brutal stabbing, attributed to an asylum seeker, led to the arrest of a 30-year-old Sudanese man.

The anti-racism demonstration occurred after nights of incendiary violence in parts of Northern Ireland. Masked groups targeted homes they believed housed immigrants, burned a bus, and threw projectiles at police. Over two dozen people were left homeless, and 12 officers sustained injuries in what authorities described as "thuggery."

Peaceful protesters carried signs with messages like "The problem is evil and violence, not race," and "Your racism is not patriotism." Newlyweds Cara Bell and Matthew Richardson, who were married at City Hall, joined the protest. Bell commented that the event demonstrated "that this is not the general feeling of people in Belfast," adding it was "a week where you have seen the worst of humanity and the best of humanity in Belfast."

Despite calls for calm from authorities and the victim's family, far-right and anti-immigrant figures were blamed for inciting protests across the UK. Similar disturbances in Glasgow, Scotland, targeted minorities and frightened worshippers at a mosque.

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Es una semana en la que has visto lo peor de la humanidad y lo mejor de la humanidad en Belfast.