10/04/2003

Anti-racism rally to be held in Belfast

Amnesty International is to stage a parade and rally in Belfast this Saturday to demonstrate opposition to, what it calls, a growing tide of racism and to the Government’s mistreatment of asylum seekers.

The parade is being supported by various local minority ethnic and refugee groups as well as local trade unionists.

Patrick Corrigan, Programme Director of Amnesty International in Northern Ireland, who will address the end of parade rally in front of Queen’s University, said: “In Northern Ireland we have witnessed an increase in the level of racially motivated crime and throughout the UK and Ireland we see a growing tide of racist hostility towards asylum seekers and refugees.

“Unfortunately, this racism is all too often fostered by sections of the media and manipulated by cynical politicians. This parade is about ethnic minorities, refugees and human rights campaigners coming together to reject this racism and demand respect for refugees.

The parade leaves Queen’s University at 2:45pm this coming Saturday.

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