5 days ago
'I'm leaving this country': Migrant workers call for immediate action in wake of attacks
MIGRANT WORKERS AND representatives from various organisations protested outside of the Department of the Taoiseach today, calling for immediate action from Government leaders in the wake of a spate of attacks against Indian people.
Around 300 people turned out for the lunchtime protest, with some migrant workers telling
The Journal
that they plan to leave Ireland due to a rise in what one called 'subtle racism, and direct attacks'.
The Indian Irish Society, the African Solidarity Centre Ireland and other organisations came together to deliver a letter to the Taoiseach Micheál Martin's office demanding immediate action in light of multiple assaults on Indian migrants that have been reported in the media in recent months.
'No one has taken responsibility. Due to the fear and anxiety caused by these incidents, one Indian cultural event has been cancelled,' the letter said, referencing the cancellation of the annual India Day celebration at Farmleigh House.
They are asking for the attackers involved in these incidents to be prosecuted, for training for gardaí on how to handle racist attacks, and 'effective strategies against racism and hate crimes'.
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One Indian tech worker, Abin, said that having lived and worked in Ireland for over two years, he now plans to leave within the next six months.
'It's the attacks and the fear, but it's also the subtle racism. I can work in other countries, I am just here to live abroad and get more experience for a while, just like Irish people who go to Australia in their twenties.
'Our demands as a community are very simple, we want to see gardaí deployed more in areas where there is a high incident rate of these racist attacks, including in areas like Tallaght. Many people are established here and it is not easy for them to leave, and they shouldn't have to,' Abin said.
One Indian worker at the protest today held a sign that read 'I'm leaving this country'.
Lassane Ouedraogo, the chair of the Africa Solidarity Centre Ireland, has been in Ireland for two decades. Today at the protest he said that he is also now planning to leave.
Lassane told
The Journal
that he has been physically attacked over five times in Ireland, and that no one was ever persecuted in relation to the attacks.
'Each time you go to bed you are wondering what the next day will be like. You aren't sure that you will go to work safe and come back safe. If something happens, people are filming you, [there are] bystanders, the police take ages to come to your rescue.
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'Looking what happened on
Sunday in Fairview
with that man, his eyes were deeply cut,' Lassane said.
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He added that his organisation and others have repeatedly called on the Government to strengthen legislation around hate crime and hate speech.
Green Party Councillor Feljin Jose, who is a representative for Cabra-Glasnevin, said that bringing in stronger hate speech laws is one of the actions that the Government could have taken before now to protect the migrant communities of Ireland.
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He also said that there has been a lack of action from senior government figures in response to the attacks against members of the Indian community.
'We've heard nothing from the Minister for Justice about it. I'm quite disappointed that he hasn't said anything at all. He's responsible for crime and safety laws, and he's said nothing.'
He added that members of the Indian community are contacting him because they don't feel safe leaving the house anymore, and also that some are contacting him because they are worried for his safety as an Indian public representative.
'My parents are telling not to go out too late, not to get on the bus, it's sad actually,' Feljin said.
'Mates that I grew up with and went to school with are talking about leaving Ireland. These are people who have been in Ireland since they were 9 or ten-years-old.
'One of my friends is a healthcare assistant who cycles from appointment to appointment in Finglas, and he is being racially abused everyday. He wants to go and work in healthcare somewhere else.'
Winifred, a Nigerian woman who has lived in Ireland for over two decades, who works in the Department of Foreign affairs, said that she went to the protest to show solidarity and speak out against the attacks that have been happening.
'On my break I have to go and protest. My colleagues don't hae to do that, but I don't feel safe anymore coming in and out of work,' she said.
Tánaiste Simon Harris and Minister of State with responsibility for Migration, Colm Brophy met with members of the Indian community on Monday to discuss recent attacks on Indian citizens.
Gardaí have said that the Garda diversity unit is working with the Federation of Indian Communities in Ireland to address present concerns and that the force 'would like to reassure those of an ethnic or minority background that we are here to keep you safe'.
It's understood that the Justice Minister plans to meet with Indian community groups this week.
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