SDLP Leader and Foyle MP Colum Eastwood
The Foyle MP has also called for further action to deal with the root causes of the hate that has spilled onto the streets this week.
Colum Eastwood MP said: “The scenes of mindless racially motivated violence in Belfast over the last few days have cast a long shadow over communities across Northern Ireland.
“People who have come here, made a home for themselves and are contributing to our society, bringing new life and new culture to our communities should be celebrated. Instead, there are families living in fear in their own homes today.
“No one should be made to feel like that.
“We all need to be clear. There is nothing legitimate about marching to a place of worship to scream ‘send them home’.
“There is nothing legitimate about kicking someone’s door in or burning their business to the ground.
“There is nothing legitimate about creating a culture of fear that drives people out of their jobs, out of our public services and out of our society.
“That is hate. And we all need to oppose it.
“This politics of hate is being convened and coordinated using misinformation spread via social media platforms that have refused to be held accountable like Elon Musk’s Twitter.
“If they wont take action to address it themselves, then we need to move on regulation to make them accountable. There should be no safe space for violence and hate to flourish in the way that it does online.
“Where people are angry about the decline in public services, or the supply of social housing – their neighbours are not the problem, political failure has let them down.
“If you want to do something about that, if you want to change the shape of our society, do it at the ballot box.
“The recall of the Assembly is a chance to send a united message. But beyond that, we all have to take the action needed to end this violence and root out the hate that caused it.
“That means strong and swift action from the police to identify those responsible and bring them to justice, support for people who feel threatened and afraid right now, a proper programme of house building to address the enormous waiting lists, investment to rescue and restore public services and a commitment from the Executive to work with new communities to address the concerns that they have been highlighting for years.”
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