The scenes of violent disorder in Ballymena last evening were shocking and everything must be done to prevent a repeat of such attacks on vulnerable innocent families and on the police officers doing their duty to protect them,
said Gerry Murphy, ICTU Assistant General Secretary.
We support the PSNI and emergency services in their efforts to protect life and property from what Assistant Chief Constable Ryan Henderson has accurately described as ‘racist thuggery’.
NIC-ICTU was involved in supporting Ballymena Trades Union Council, political and community representatives in similar circumstances a few years ago. There followed a series of interventions after which tensions were calmed and inaccurate perceptions about migrant workers were dispelled.
We see a similar challenge right now in the same city, turbocharged by unregulated social media. We have learnt from experience in Ballymena and many other places that misinformation about groups of people needs to be challenged. Contrary to many unchallenged assertions, the Roma community in Ballymena are not ‘illegal immigrants’ but hard-working families employed through employment agencies to do jobs which otherwise would not be done.
We will support as best we can civil society organisations, elected representatives, the emergency services, employers and the trade union community of Ballymena to restore calm and improved community relations.”
We at ICTU will also continue to work with all vulnerable and marginalised groups across the community, provide training and support for and in any workplace and ensure that the virus of racism is expunged from our offices, our factories, our hospitals and our streets.
