Paul Murphy Condemns Belfast Racist Pogrom, Calls Out Online Incitement
Paul Murphy condemns the horrific attack on Monday night in Belfast and calls it an effectively racist pogrom. He commends those who intervened, and urges the Taoiseach to condemn not only the attackers but also those who fanned the flames online.
Paul Murphy describes the scenes in Belfast where families were forced from burning homes and credits those who bravely intervened. He calls the events heartbreaking and grimly reminiscent of earlier pogroms in Belfast in the 1920s and 1960s, and stresses the urgent need to acknowledge the human cost.
He challenges the Taoiseach to condemn the online amplification of hate, naming high-profile figures and politicians whose words and platforms have stoked division. Murphy points to the role of wealthy and powerful individuals as well as certain media and political actors in spreading scapegoating narratives about migrants.
Murphy argues that public representatives, media outlets and influencers all bear responsibility for what is said and published. He warns that raising tensions and scapegoating vulnerable groups is unacceptable and demands accountability for those who fanned hatred.
The speech centres on the dignity of individuals and the trauma inflicted on families and children. Murphy calls on political life to call out the level of racism evident in recent events and to ensure the safety and dignity of those affected.
Attack and immediate response
Paul Murphy describes the scenes in Belfast where families were forced from burning homes and credits those who bravely intervened. He calls the events heartbreaking and grimly reminiscent of earlier pogroms in Belfast in the 1920s and 1960s, and stresses the urgent need to acknowledge the human cost.
Online amplification and named figures
He challenges the Taoiseach to condemn the online amplification of hate, naming high-profile figures and politicians whose words and platforms have stoked division. Murphy points to the role of wealthy and powerful individuals as well as certain media and political actors in spreading scapegoating narratives about migrants.
Political and media responsibility
Murphy argues that public representatives, media outlets and influencers all bear responsibility for what is said and published. He warns that raising tensions and scapegoating vulnerable groups is unacceptable and demands accountability for those who fanned hatred.
Human impact and the call to act
The speech centres on the dignity of individuals and the trauma inflicted on families and children. Murphy calls on political life to call out the level of racism evident in recent events and to ensure the safety and dignity of those affected.
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Transcript
I want to condemn the horrific attack on Monday night in Belfast and commend those who bravely intervened. I also want to condemn what was effectively a racist pogrom in Belfast last night. The scenes, the stories of families having their homes burned down, being forced to flee out of burning homes by violent gangs was absolutely heartbreaking. It is grimly reminiscent of the pogroms that we saw in Belfast in the 1920s and 1960s. Taoiseach, you've rightly condemned those who set those flames, set those those homes alight. Will you also condemn those who fanned the flames online? The likes of Elon Musk, one of the richest, most powerful men in the world, Tommy Robinson, Conor McGregor, but also those politicians who have engaged in the scapegoating of migrants. These people who are at the top of society, who are some rich and powerful people, are happy to see people divided, to see hate and division spread in order to distract from their own failures that people in our society are paying for. First of all, I condemn, and I have condemned the description of a racist pogrom last night in Orkney, Belfast. I did make the point in my earlier remarks, there were certain media outlets, there were certain of a particular political disposition who sought, in my view, from observing some of the interviews, to raise tensions, and that is unacceptable, and I wrongly condemn that. We have to be extremely... everybody has a responsibility in terms of what gets said, because the dignity of every individual must be respected. To have families and young children subjected to what happened last evening is unacceptable. What happened the previous evening was savage, and has created huge anxiety also, and fears and anger. That must be acknowledged. But all of us in political life, as public representatives, must call out the level of racism that was evident last evening.