Peter McGuire Workers Party Representative for Foyle has called for a strategic plan to be developed as a matter of urgency to address the growing Sectarian Violence in Derry City.

Mr McGuire said Derry City has become a sectarian hate fest with young people becoming more involved in sectarian violence some of it organised between sectarian elements and some by local youths that are arranged through social media platforms. The Workers Party believes that this will become much more prevalent in the run up to the elections in May and that the local residents many of them elderly should not have to suffer the consequences of this violence.

Mr McGuire who is also involved in youth work said that two years ago, youth workers from the Education Authority, DUP and Sinn Fein Councillors the PSNI and community workers met to discuss sectarian attacks and tensions in the Waterside. It was proposed that a strategic plan be developed to address sectarianism and engagement with the young people involved. He said although the idea was agreed, nothing happened no plan was developed, no engagement has taken place despite the huge increase in sectarian violence and outright displays of sectarianism. No one wants to admit that sectarianism is growing and culture wars and aggression is booming.

Mr McGuire concluded by saying there have been sectarian attacks recently in the city centre at interfaces around the Fountain Estate and throughout the Waterside. Some young person is going to be killed or seriously injured. It is now time for action and investment to tackle sectarianism in our communities it is time working class people united against all forms of discrimination. Social justice is delivered through unity and tackling poverty, inequality in the health services, housing, education, low pay and precarious employment all of the issues that affect every community in our city. Sectarianism divides the working class, so we will not become a united voice in our demands for real change.

Our political leaders are engaged in distraction tactics to cover for their collective failures, they should not be given cover through sectarian violence or rhetoric. It is time to tackle the real inequalities and deprivations in our society.