Several hundred Galway residents attended a rally on Saturday in Eyre Square to highlight racism. Galway Communities Against Racism and Discrimination organised the event which was supported by many groups including Amach!LGBT+, members of the migrant community, including those living in Direct Provision, and the Green Party.
The rally gathered in Eyre Square and was addressed by a number of speakers including Nora Corcoran from the Galway Traveller Movement and Islammiyah Kadejo, CEO of Galway Online Community Radio, who is also the Green Party representative in Tuam. The rally then marched down Shop Street, where they received a positive reception from the public and finished at Spanish Arch.
Islammiyah Kadejo told the crowd that we all need to identify and understand deep-rooted implicit biases, as the bedrock of racism; assume less and let people define themselves.
“With this, whether at professional level, or in public sector, or in governance, we can give everyone the opportunity to thrive and feel welcome, without discrimination.”
Afterwards Green Party representative for Galway City East, Joyce Mathias, said the whole idea of diversity encompasses the differences in our culture, perception of life and how we give free reign to those things that define our individualities and group identities.
“It’s never envisaged that our values will always be in agreement. However, we must have respect for the values others and cherish the uniqueness that defines our looks, accent , background. This enriches us as humans, but also enriches Ireland as a country that’s fast becoming a melting pot of many cultures.
“Systemic discrimination has caused many in the diverse minorities to hold back from truly being themselves. Being different is beautiful! It enriches the world and makes its mosaic an aesthetic wonder,” she said.
Following the march Cllr. Niall Murphysaid that demonstrations like this are important to get the attention of the public and politicians, and to encourage change.
“There is hate-speech legislation, but only about 50 prosecutions in the more than 30 years since it was enacted. New legislation before the Dáil will make prosecutions easier, including a clearer definition of hate-speech. I believe that public figures, because of their access to the media need to be held to a higher standard. In October, Galway City Councillors voted unanimously to agree an anti-racism protocol with all local candidates and elected representatives.
“It is important that this protocol is in place before the next local election so that local leaders understand how much impact their voice has on minorities – and that impact can help or it can hurt. Public representatives will have different views on policies regarding minorities, but that dialog must remain respectful of all minority groups within Galway.”
