Clashes expected as anti-immigration protest set for Dublin city centre
Tensions are likely to run high as anti-immigration protestors clash with counter-demonstrators in Dublin city centre on Saturday.
The capital city is set to witness a significant anti-immigration protest, with thousands expected to gather at the Garden of Remembrance at 2pm.
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The protest is expected to be met with counter-demonstrations from various groups advocating for anti-racism and immigrant rights.
These groups include political parties Sinn Féin, the Social Democrats, People Before Profit, and the Socialist Party, as well as trade unions, tenant unions, and civil society and community groups.
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Speaking to the Irish Alliance, protest organiser and Dublin City Councillor Malachy Steenson said: "We are holding a national rally, both to commemorate those who gave their lives in the cause of Irish freedom for centuries past and also as a rally against government policy on housing, health, education, all this diversity nonsense and anything else that this government is currently at. The whole myriad of things that this government is out to destroy the country with.
"So we're calling on anybody who believes this country is being run for the benefit of a very small minority and is not being run for the benefit of our people, they should come along.
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"Just to remind people - this is a peaceful protest and rally. This will be men, women, and children, young and old, workers and unemployed, right across the spectrum in this country."
Taking to Instagram, People Before Profit Cllr Darragh Adelaide said: "On the 26th of APril, United Against Racism has called a counter protest against a far right, anti-immigration demonstration that is happening in Dublin.
"When these anti-immigration protests happen, it creates an atmosphere of fear and intimidation for people of colour, for migrants, for asylum seekers, and you only have to look at the organisers to understand why.
"You have Malachy Steenson, who wants to roll back abortion rights, who happily stands side-by-side with abusive grifters like Conor McGregor and the Fox News millionaire Tucker Carlson.
"The far right demonstration at the Garden of Rememberance has been endorsed by the National Party whose former leader has been quoted saying Hitler was the greatest leader of all time and he said on his Twitter account that someone needs to speak up on behalf of the ordinary decent Irish racist."
MMA fighter Conor McGregor is reportedly in attendance at the Garden of Rememberance alongside his family.
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