Thousands of people gathered on Saturday for an anti-racism rally in the Northern Irish city of Belfast, following unrest sparked by a horrific stabbing incident. Protesters carried placards with slogans such as "Hate is the only threat to our streets" and "Belfast stands against racism."
Background of the Unrest
The city experienced two nights of disorder after a video of Monday night's knife attack went viral on social media platforms. The footage showed a man straddling another individual lying in the street, slashing him with a knife. A Sudanese man appeared in court on Wednesday, charged with the attempted murder of Stephen Ogilvie, who remains hospitalized.
Mayor's Address to the Crowd
Belfast mayor Rois-Maire Donnelly addressed the crowd, stating that a small minority could not be allowed to "spread fear... and hatred." She revealed that she had received death threats this week. "You're the Belfast that I represent -- resilient, compassionate and welcoming. Our city is stronger because of its diversity," she said.
Protester's Perspective
Protester Hilary Hunter, 63, told AFP she attended the rally because she was "just disgusted at what's going on, our beautiful country."
