A crowd of over a 100 people gathered at Daisy Hill Hospital in Newry on Sunday in a rally against racism.
The crown heard several hospital staff, union representatives and a spokesperson for United against Racism, speak out against racism and in support of international workers at the hospital who have suffered racist attack over the last few weeks.
Among those speaking was Siju George, who represents black and migrant workers for Unison and is a nurse at the hospital.
He said: “Many of my colleagues from Kerala (southern India) who work in healthcare here have now decided to move to other countries to protect their children and families.
“I too questioned my decision to make this place my home. Then I saw the huge crowd at the anti-racism rally in Belfast last week and I knew my decision was right. This is the right time to say no to hatred, no to racism, no to Islamophobia.”
Fiona Doran, from United against Racism, commented: “The last few weeks have been truly disgraceful. The explosion of violence in Belfast and elsewhere in the north and south, as well as across the shore, have demonstrated the need to organise, mobilise and stand against the far right.
“The good people of our towns and cities on this island have answered it in their thousands. We have stood up and shown that everyone in our community is welcome and that we will protect our neighbours and friends from violence.
“As we in this part of the world are keenly aware. Violence does not happen in a vacuum. The far right are preying on the poverty that has been created by successive governments, with little challenge from Stormont. Right wing rhetoric misdirecting the blame has been platformed by the mainstream media and perpetuated on social media platforms.”
She called on people to respond by “coming together to demand better and to hold hold politicians to account”.
“Never in history has anything been gifted to working class people. We’ve had to fight for it. And there’s no better people to do it than Newry people! UAR will be with you every step of the way.”
Theatre Nurse at Daisy Hill, Unison representative Deirdre Murphy, a co-organiser of the vigil, added: “Here at Daisy Hill Hospital, some of our international healthcare workers have been the victims of racist attacks themselves. Many are scared of their futures here. They, the backbone of our healthcare service, feel vulnerable and unvalued.
“In our trade unions, in our community groups and as individuals we must celebrate our diversity and show those whose hate-fuelled ignorance has caused such damage that there is a better way. To fight as one for equality, social justice and proper resources in our health service and housing so we can create a better society for everyone.”
Teacher, Noreen Kelly, of INTO (Irish National Teachers’ Organisation) said: “I would like to say to all of our healthcare workers and colleagues as a trade union INTO stands strong and stands proud. We are with you, we support you, and we will do everything that we can to ensure that you know that you are welcome and supported here in our community, doing the great job that you do to support us.
“So together we stand with you, and we will go as far as we need to and we will keep turning up to these events and we will keep getting the message out. We say no to racism. As educators we have a very important role to carry out in our classrooms, to let our children and our colleagues know that there is no place for racism in any place in our country.”
Internationally renowned folk singer and peace campaigner, Tommy Sands sung two of his classic songs, ‘The County Down’ and ‘Home away from Home’.
Members of NIPSA, Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign (Newry branch), Muslim Association of Newry and Newry LGBTQ+ Women’s Group also attended.
