THE “don’t let hate win” message forcibly delivered amid scenes of racist carnage have been re-emphasised in Donegal this week.
Communities in towns like Letterkenny have already urged calm following the racist outrage of a white man’s stabbing in Belfast by an African man.
Subsequent anti-immigration demos and masked men’s burning of ethnic families’ homes were condemned – and prompted Donegal community leaders like Balume Dube to warn his “own children about their safety”.
Now several more ethnic minorities’ representatives have issued condemnations.
A spokesperson for Donegal Intercultural Platform told the Donegal News: “What happened in Belfast is racism.
“We have genuine concerns about organised pogroms of ethnic cleansing against people from minority communities, about targeting people because of their skin colour.”
He stated that communities’ “social and economic problems” are not the fault of ethnic minorities and branded the Belfast stabbing “horrendous”.
He added: “It must be condemned, as must the rampaging of organised gangs, burning cars, houses and threatening people through balaclavas and intimidation.
“People are living in fear. We ask, ‘Who is fomenting and profiting from that fear?”
A spokesperson in Letterkenny for African Community Donegal said: “Mobs set homes, a bus and cars on fire, with people targeted based on their race.”
She added: “The actions of the individual accused of this [stabbing] are inexcusable and cannot be justified, accepted, or condoned in any way.
“At the same time, we appeal for unity, compassion, and calm. The actions of one person must never define an entire people, nationality, race, or community.
“The vast majority of Africans living in Ireland are law-abiding individuals, who contribute positively to society and share the same values of peace, respect, and human dignity.
“This tragic moment calls on all of us to stand together against violence, hatred, racism, and division.”
In Inishowen, expressions of shock and sadness were expressed as communities recover from the violence.
A spokesperson for Inishowen Development Partnership said: “We are appalled and saddened by the violence, intimidation, and racist attacks directed at black and minority ethnic communities.
“Migrants who have chosen to make their lives here are our neighbours, friends, colleagues and classmates.
“Programmes such as Inishowen Standing Together Against Racism are rooted in this belief.”
United Against Racism (UAR) Donegal urged people to “stand up to racism”.
A spokesperson for UAR said: “We know that Ireland has the capacity to be the land of céad míle fáilte.”
Cllrr Jimmy Kavanagh opened the Kranthi Ireland Centre in Letterkenny in 2022.
Donegal County councillors Declan Meehan and Jimmy Kavanagh also last week condemned the anti-immigrant attacks.
Cllr Declan Meehan said: “It is incumbent on all of us to call out racist rhetoric against people of colour. It has to be universally condemned.”
Cllr Jimmy said: “People are using the attack as an excuse for racism. Innocent people are being put out of their homes. “