Proactive approach needed to tackle Derry s increased incidents of racism
Call comes from the North West Migrants Forum
Lilian Seenoi-Barr from the North West Migrants Forum.
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Derry s political and religious leaders have been called on to take a proactive approach to tackle racism and prejudice towards people of minority ethnic backgrounds in the city.
The call comes from Lilian Seenoi-Barr, from the North-West Migrants Forum, who was speaking after figures showed the Derry and Strabane district recorded the biggest increase in racist incidents in the North last year, as well as the second-largest increase in racist crimes.
A UUP councillor in Londonderry has apologised after making “insensitive” comments in relation to the Black Lives Matter movement.
Derry City and Strabane councillor Derek Hussey made the comments at a special virtual council meeting on Monday evening discussing racism in the north-west.
During the meeting, the council had welcomed presentations by anti-racism groups across Northern Ireland – discussing the issue of racism, sectarianism and anti-semitism.
Speaking towards the end of the discussion, Mr Hussey made reference to the Black Lives Matter movement, remarking it was a very “multicultural” presentation and noted the meeting was addressing issues “which go beyond Black Lives Matter”.
BBC News
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There was a bigger increase in racist incidents in the Londonderry and Strabane policing area than any other part of Northern Ireland in the past year, figures have shown.
The area also had the second-largest increase in the number of racist crimes reported to police.
It is despite an overall fall in racist incidents and crimes across Northern Ireland between 2019 and 2020.
Mayor of Derry Brian Tierney described the statistics as frightening .
In 2019 the figures were 54 and 34 respectively. No place in our city
In a tweet, Foyle MP and SDLP leader Colum Eastwood described the increase in racist incidents and crimes in the area as very concerning and unacceptable .
Councillor who proposed Blue Plaque for slave owner withdraws motion belfasttelegraph.co.uk - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from belfasttelegraph.co.uk Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Objections have been lodged against moves to celebrate Hercules Mulligan in the Causeway Coast and Glens area.
It comes after records showed he owned a slave after helping to set up an anti-slavery society.
Mulligan s family emigrated to America in 1746, when he was six. He went on to spy on the British during the American War of Independence and in 1785 was a founder member of the New York Manumission Society, which campaigned to abolish slavery.
According to official US records, however, he still owned a slave five years after establishing the organisation, with one even living with his family.
Alliance councillor Yvonne Boyle, who proposed that Mulligan be recognised through local heritage trails, said she knew he had owned a slave before she put forward the motion.