ABOUT 15,000 people took part in an anti-racism rally in Belfast on Saturday following a week of rioting and disorder in the city.

The protest started at Writer’s Square, where a huge crowd assembled, many holding placards with anti-racism and pro-migrant messages.

Organised by the United Against Racism group, the protesters made their way to City Hall, chanting: “When migrants’ rights are under attack, what do we do? Stand up, fight back.”

It came after about 1,000 people had gathered in the city on Friday evening for a counterprotest against several hundred far-right thugs. A heavy police presence and barriers were put in place to keep the two groups apart and roads were closed for several hours.

More than 120 groups took part in Saturday’s demonstration.

Up to a dozen people made speeches on a stage outside City Hall, including women from migrant groups, a representative from a racial equality group, union representatives, politicians and a migrant whose business was attacked last week.

Areeg Fareh, from the Anaka Women’s Collective, said: “We have made Northern Ireland our home. We are in communities all around the city. Yes, we have experienced racism. It is challenging and it hurts, but most people here have shown us kindness and understanding.

“We bring skills and knowledge in a diverse range of areas, from medicine to engineering, to business and computers to art and culture. We have much to give and want to share with you all.”

Vice-chairman of the Northern Ireland Council for Racial Equality Raied al-Wazzan, a Muslim who has lived in Belfast for more than four decades, told the crowd that he felt proud to have chosen the city to make his home.

“Today, I can see lots of good people around me from every corner of Northern Ireland, from every religion and age and every political background,” he said.

“Ethnic minorities are part of the fabric of Belfast. I have spent 43 years of my life here contributing to this community. And I am going to stay here. And I will not go away.”

Sinn Fein legislative assembly member (MLA) Deirdre Hargey said: “Belfast, it’s great to see so many of its citizens here today in defiance of the Islamophobic and racist violence and thuggery that we have witnessed the past week. Belfast is a welcome, progressive and forward-looking inclusive city. It’s a place I am proud to call home.

“It’s a place which is proudly diverse. It is the home of emancipation, of anti-fascism, of civil rights, community organising and the one that resisted oppression and discrimination.

“The seeds of Islamophobia and racist violence and destruction and thuggery are disgusting and not reflective of the Belfast we love and know.”

People Before Profit MLA Gerry Carroll said: “15,000 people are here to say no to racism and the poison of fascism and that migrants are welcome. Refugees are not the enemy. This city is an anti-fascist city and the racists will not win.

“Everywhere they attempt to spread their poison, we will be there to oppose them every step of the way. The racists do not represent the majority, they thrive off despair and hate and exploit people’s fears and anger and the antidote to politics of fear is politics of hope.

“We say people have every right to be angry — but your enemies are not refugees or migrants: your enemies are billionaires and politicians who have wrecked our society.”

Saeb Shaath, who owns a Middle Eastern shop, said: “There are 3,000 asylum-seekers in Northern Ireland. They are not illegal immigrants. They came here because bombs landed on their houses, war came to them and they wanted sanctuary.

“The wars are caused by who? By the imperialists and the zionists.”