Socialists Urge Community to Unite against Racism

dublin | miscellaneous | press release

Monday September 06, 2004 17:21

by Colm Breathnach - Irish Socialist Network

irishsocialistnetwork at dublin dot ie

Irish Socialist Network

PRESS RELEASE 6th SEPTEMBER 2004

SOCIALISTS URGE COMMUNITY TO UNITE AGAINST RACISM FOLLOWING FINGLAS ATTACK

The Irish Socialist Network has strongly condemned the racist attack which led to the expulsion of a black family in Finglas. Local representative John O Neill called on the community to unite against the threat of racist violence.

John stated ‘From what I have learned a small number of people were involved in this attack. They do not in any way represent the feelings of the vast majority of decent Finglas people. In fact those involved seem to belong to a small minority of thugs who regularly terrorize their own community through anti-social behavior. I am currently discussing the situation with local people and community activists to see how we can ensure that such a disgraceful incident will never happen again.’

John accused right-wing politicians of creating the atmosphere where such attacks occur: ‘The recent referendum on Citizenship created a strongly divisive atmosphere in the city. Progressive Democrat and Fianna Fail politicians shamelessly exploited racist anti-immigrant feelings to try to divert anger in working class communities away from themselves during the local elections. It suits the conservative politicians and their allies in sections of the media to encourage people to blame immigrants for the crisis in housing and the health service. Attacks such as this are the consequence of such manipulation’.

The ISN is currently in discussion with other progressive and anti-fascist forces about how best to respond to this incident. If there is any evidence of organized racist or neo-nazi activity in Finglas, it must be rooted out forcefully.

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