Paramilitaries are orchestrating attacks on migrants says Black Lives Matter activist who is Londonderry mayor
A Black Lives Matter activist who is currently mayor of Londonderry has suggested there were paramilitary elements behind the recent disorder in Belfast.
SDLP councillor Lilian Seenoi-Barr also seemed to indicate that the PSNI should have stopped the anti-immigration protests, which preceded the violence, from going ahead.
The chairman of the Loyalist Communities Council has told the News Letter he is unaware of any paramilitary involvement in the protests.
Saturday saw a number of anti-immigration gatherings in Belfast, Newtownabbey, Carrickfergus and Bangor – including hundreds of people at Belfast City Hall.
Later that day two shisha cafes in south Belfast were wrecked by rioters, and a halal supermarket in the Sandy Row neighbourhood was torched, along with vehicles.
Councillor Seenoi-Barr is founder of the North West Migrants Forum, a registered charity in Londonderry which is largely funded via the National Lottery.
A former refugee from Kenya she posted the following online – an open letter to the taoiseach, First and Deputy First Ministers, and justice minister.
"I am writing to express my deep sorrow and disappointment regarding the government's response to the escalating hate crimes, Islamophobia, and racism on the island of Ireland," wrote councillor Seenoi-Barr.
"For far too long, organisations led by and working with migrants, as well as leaders from Black and minoritised communities, have consistently raised serious concerns about online racist hate, arson attacks on businesses owned by people of African descent, Muslims and, attacks on community centres and mosques.
"We have also highlighted the lack of appropriate police and government responses to these attacks, the absence of decisive action against paramilitary forces and the so called far-right agitators orchestrating these crimes.
"The events that unfolded on Saturday... were well-publicised through social media and circulated widely among the public.
"The police were aware of the anxiety in the community and the threat posed by those organising these protests, but they did nothing to prepare or stop it from happening.
"They did not provide security to the business owners and left them to fend for themselves, only responding late after attacks had already occurred.
"As leaders, you have a moral duty to highlight the positive contributions of migration in Ireland.
"Migrants contribute. not only culturally but also economically, and we need leaders in your positions to categorically and explicitly communicate this to the public."
Councillor Seenoi-Barr was selected as mayor by the SDLP earlier this year, prompting two of her colleagues to quit the party.
They complained that the SDLP top brass had over-ridden local reps, enforcing councillor Seenoi-Barr as the only name on their selection list.
Meanwhile David Campbell, chairman of the Loyalist Communities Council (which brings together people with links to the mainstream UDA, UVF and RHC) said: “I am unaware of any paramilitary involvement in the weekend protests.
“I think every community, not just in the UK but throughout Europe, has issues with illegal economic migrants, but I believe genuine asylum seekers and those escaping persecution are welcomed in Northern Ireland.”