Several hundred people turned out in Dublin city centre this afternoon in what was an anti-racist rally organised by a number of different solidarity groups and organisations locally. The huge turnout witnessed a number of speakers hit out at the growing number of attacks on refugee families around the country by a small number of racist elements spurred on by several far-right groups seeking to scapegoat migrant workers for the current homeless crisis. Trade union, housing community and anti-fascist activists also took part in today solidarity action outside the GPO.
In a statement issued earlier, a spokesperson for the Industrial Workers of the World condemned recent attacks by far right elements in their attempt of stoking up racial hatred and division against the migrant communities.
As a revolutionary union we unapologetically assert that 'refugees are welcome here' and are not in any way responsible for the current housing crisis in Ireland. We believe that the ongoing economic crisis within the country lays squarely at the feet of the successive governments and capitalism globally.
We restate our continuing solidarity and support for refugee and migrant communities who continue to struggle for better conditions and workers rights in accordance with our long standing international solidarity.
We urge our member to continue to resist attempts in local areas to target refugee accommodation.
Further we support a broad based antifascist network and encourage active participation by our members in upcoming solidarity actions for refugee and migrant communities.