HUNDREDS of people have turned out at a rally in Derry to support an Egyptian family who have been the victims of a torrent of racist attacks over the past year.
The protest was organised by People Before Profit but attracted people of all political beliefs.
Socialist Eamonn McCann it was important for people in the city to stand by the family which runs the Cairo 24/7 shop on the Strand Road.
“We must stand up to hate. The bigots who attack migrants in the Press or the boot boys that leave people terrified and cowering in fear can never go unchallenged. We cannot leave any member our community vulnerable to this,” he said.
Mark Durkan condemned the attacks.
“Derry repudiates violence and prejudice of any sort,” he said.
“We count migrants as ‘one of us’ and we are glad that they have chosen Derry as their home.
“There is a clear statement in todays ‘people’s response’ to this incident.
“Such attacks tarnish the good name of this city and send out the wrong sort of message to visitors and those from abroad who decide to make Derry their home.
“We must therefore stand firm against prejudice in all its forms, and to any degree in our society.
“Greater efforts are also needed to tackle prejudice or intolerance not only at home but wherever it occurs – at school, at work, and even amongst our relatives and friends.
“Individually, we must ask ourselves what role each of us can play in building a society without prejudice and discrimination.
“Indeed, small individual actions taken together can make a very big and real difference.”
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