United Against Racism Derry Guildhall Rally

Derry Journal

United Against Racism Derry Guildhall Rally.

Transcript

00:00When this city unites, it does it unlike any other place.

00:04So I want these first of all to give yourselves a huge round of applause, these are the stars of the show.

00:09So folks, the first person up tonight is our mayor, a history-making mayor, I want you

00:23all to put your hands together for Lillian Sinoy-Barnes.

00:30Thank you, thank you very much, and it's wonderful to see so many people coming out here to stand

00:43in solidarity with migrants across the UK, and particularly here in the North of Ireland.

00:50By gathering here, we are sending out a very clear message that we are united against racism,

00:57we are united against Islamophobia, we are united against xenophobia, and we are united against hate.

01:06And let me ask you this, if we could somehow, just magically, collect every immigrant on this island

01:22and return them today to their country of origin, would all the islands rules suddenly be solved?

01:30Would everyone who needs a house suddenly get one?

01:34Would Island Street be free of drugs, free of violence, and free of crime?

01:40And the answer is no, it's not going to be.

01:44But our next speaker is Sami Said Ali Hassan.

01:53Sami is from the Northwest Islamic Association, he is a mainstay of all these kind of demonstrations,

01:59he's always on the street for us, I want you to put your hands together for him please.

02:03Assalamu alaikum, peace be upon you all.

02:14The people of this city are peace-loving and wouldn't endorse unjust violence toward others.

02:23And as the Irish saying goes, it is in the shelter of each other that the people live.

02:29It is in the shelter of each other that the people live.

02:45Thank you so much Sami.

02:47So our next speaker is a woman who gives up all of her time to help other people.

02:53She is funded for people in Gaza, Afghanistan, and she helps anyone who comes here who asks.

03:00So I want you to put your hands together and give a huge reception to Hilda Hoare.

03:05If you want to put it in religious terms, this today is genuine Christian values.

03:19United together against injustice and oppression, forming a protective barrier around the most vulnerable in society,

03:28caring for them, loving them, this is something we're holding on to.

03:34Shouting from the helicopters, we will not stand by watching our dear fellow human beings being viciously attacked,

03:44their livelihood destroyed, forced to live in fear and trepidation.

03:50We won't have it in this city, we won't have it in this country.

04:05Our next speaker is a health service worker, one of the many people that have come here to save lives and to help people.

04:13When the racists go to hospital, I wonder do they ever refuse treatment because the doctor is black or brown.

04:19I would highly doubt it. So I want you to put your hands together for Beverly Simpson of Unison.

04:25They are many like me who have come to live and work in Northern Ireland.

04:37We are key workers, we are essential workers for the services provided for society.

04:44We are not the cause of the problems, we are not the ones that underfund the public services.

04:52In fact, we have been invited to come here to deal with a staffing crisis.

05:05It's such a wonderful sight to see so many people here. I think we should keep you here all night.

05:11It's lovely to look out on to see so many anti-racist faces.

05:14So our next speaker here is from Sean Harkin for People for a Profit.

05:19Sean is a lifelong anti-racist. Put your hands together please.

05:28Thank you David. It's brilliant standing up here.

05:33It's brilliant to look out at all the flags and banners.

05:36Banners from Tony Ghaul, people down here from the North Coast.

05:41The rainbow flag, lots of trade union flags.

05:45Anti-fascist flags, the Palestine flag, the Irish flag and the red socialist flag.

05:52And this represents Derry. This is who we are.

06:03Thank you very much Sean.

06:05Our next speaker is another lifelong anti-racist and community champion.

06:09Put your hands together for Councillor Sandra Duffy of Sinn Fein.

06:16We're a move it. And I have to say folks, it is a powerful sight from up here.

06:23And we are sending a really powerful message.

06:26And I would ask you to take a look around yourselves.

06:29Take a look at the crowd that is here tonight.

06:31This is Derry. This is the North West. This is who we are.

06:37Let's send a clear message tonight to the world that Derry stands united against hate.

06:44United against racism and united for a better, brighter future for everyone who holds this place home.

06:52Derry will not tolerate hate. We're a move it.

06:59Thank you very much Sandra.

07:00Our last speaker tonight, last but not least, is again a lifelong anti-fascist, anti-racist campaigner.

07:08The Republican Councillor Gary Donnelly.

07:14The events of the past week have been horrendous and overwhelmingly betrayed.

07:19And has betrayed us in a negative light.

07:22However, in order to see the true nature of all our communities, just look at the positive reactions on three occasions.

07:31The residents of the Lower Armour Road facing down the rioters.

07:35The actions of the community in the Falls Road last night.

07:45And residents of Sandy Road contributing largely to the financial effort to help those Syrian refugees whose business was ruined.

08:06Folks, that's it for the evening. I want you to all to look around one more time.

08:13All you'll see is sympathetic eyes. This is such a wonderful turnout.

08:17I want to thank every single one of you for coming here.

08:20I would encourage you to find United Against Racism on social media.

08:24Get involved with it. Build an anti-racist movement. Stand with your neighbours.

08:30When you see the comments section of a newspaper, those people aren't representative of the world.

08:35When you hear the hate being spewed by Tommy Robinson supporters.

08:39When you see the splashed off buildings. Remember, we are the people.

08:43There is always going to be much more of us than there ever will be of them.

08:47So I ask everybody, go in peace. Give each other a hug.

08:59And thank you all so much for coming.

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