“Migrants are welcome”, says Immigrant Council of Ireland who say anti-refugee protests only sow division in Ireland – TheLiberal.ie – Our News, Your Views

“Migrants are welcome”, says Immigrant Council of Ireland who say anti-refugee protests only sow division in Ireland




The Immigrant Council of Ireland has said that protests against the arrival of asylum seekers and international protection in places such as the East Wall in Dublin and Fermoy in County Cork threaten to cause division within communities.

A demonstration in support of refugees in Fermoy this afternoon was attended by around 300 people.

Some 70 people attended an anti-immigrant rally in the city earlier this week. At that concentration, a group chanted the expulsion of 66 applicants for international protection who had just moved to the city.

This afternoon there was a much larger demonstration in Fermoy to support the applicants for international protection themselves.

Today’s organizers said Wednesday night’s protest did not represent the city.

That is why we are creating this moment to say refugees are welcome, asylum seekers are welcome, LGBTQ+ people are welcome, Travellers are welcome, and people of colour are welcome,” said Kate O’Connell of Fermoy and Mallow Against Racism, at today’s rally, reports RTE.

She said there had been a disinformation campaign in Fermoy in recent weeks by people using social media to sow division.

“Fermoy is a town where we look out for each other, where we live out the values of community, solidarity and connection every day,” Ms O’Connell said, reports RTE.

Most of the people who spoke to RTÉ News on the streets of Fermoy said they had received asylum and international protection seekers who had arrived in the town during the week.

“They don’t serve those who are seeking international protection. They don’t serve the community themselves and they don’t give us an answer to how we manage the challenges that are presented by these circumstances,” Immigrant Council Chief Executive Brian Killoran said, reports RTE.

The Immigrant Council calls for clear communication to inform communities where asylum seekers and international protection seekers are received and that appropriate services are in place to ensure their needs and those of those communities are met.

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