5 days ago
Dublin activist group condemns ‘racist vigilantes' who have been attacking homeless tents
'While no such actions are justified, it is worth noting that these so called patriots have also targeted the shelters of Irish born rough sleepers'
According to DCAR, this site on Alfie Byrne had also been attacked
The group posted this picture of a tent that had been attacked in Clontarf
A Dublin activist group has condemned the violent actions of 'racist vigilantes' who have been 'terrorising' some of the city's most vulnerable people.
Dublin Communities Against Racism (DCAR) branded the self-proclaimed 'patriots" who had been destroying the tents and belongings of homeless people as 'cowards'.
'These racist vigilantes are not patriots, they are cowards targeting people who are already struggling with homelessness, complex mental health challenges, and addiction issues,' the group posted on Facebook.
According to DCAR, many encampments had existed peacefully for years without incident before a 'sudden escalation in attacks'.
They said this was directly linked to the 'inflammatory rhetoric of the racist agitators who seek to exploit social tensions for their own political gain'.
The group posted this picture of a tent that had been attacked in Clontarf
News in 90 Seconds - May 29th
'This violent behaviour does nothing to address homelessness,' the group added, 'it only deepens the suffering of those already living on the margins.
'While no such actions are justified, it is worth noting that these so called patriots have also targeted the shelters of Irish born rough sleepers.'
Pádraig Drummond, CEO of Streetlink Homeless Support, said the incidents were not just vandalism, thy were a 'cruel and calculated attack on human dignity'.
According to DCAR, this site on Alfie Byrne had also been attacked
'The people targeted are our neighbours, many of whom have deep roots in these communities,' Mr Drummond said.
'Those destroying their shelters are not protecting anyone, they are inflicting trauma on people who have nowhere else to go."
'These attacks are hate crimes on some of the most vulnerable people within our community, and those responsible should be held accountable.
'We also urge the public to reject the divisive lies of the racist and far-right figures who fuel such violence.'
Diarmuid Mac Dubhghlais, community and homelessness activist pointed out that homelessness is a 'crisis created by government policy, not by homeless people themselves, not by immigrants, refugees, or NGOs'.
'The real threat to our communities is not the most vulnerable among us, but those who spread hatred while offering no real solutions,' he argued.
Dublin Communities Against Racism said they had been regularly highlighting the attacks on homeless people, as well as the targeting of soup kitchens by 'racists' over the past two years.
'All those engaging in these acts and those provoking them must accept responsibility for the consequences of their actions,' they added.
