Christian church leaders have condemned plans for a series of far-right ‘anti-immigrant’ and Islamic protests across the north as it emerged a counter-rally will also to be held in Belfast.
Social media messages circulated in recent days have called for protests to be held across the north on Saturday, with venues including Belfast, Newtownabbey, Carrickfergus, Larne, Bangor and north Down.
Police said on Friday that some of the messages call for roads to be blocked “using women and children”.
One social media message urges “well intentioned Christians, parents and law-abiding citizens” to take part in a march from Belfast City Hall to Belfast Islamic Centre at University Street, in south Belfast on Saturday “to demand a withdrawal from our communities and our Christian country”.
People have been urged to bring “Christian flags and banners” as well as well as Irish and Union flags.
Earlier this week PSNI chief constable Jon Boutcher branded the protest organisers as “cowards” adding “this is based on poisonous nonsense”.
It has now emerged that a counter-rally, organised by United Against Racism Belfast, will also be held at city hall Saturday morning.
In a statement the group said: “We absolutely 100 percent condemn these hate rallies and we hope that the PSNI will police them make sure that the Belfast Islamic Centre and those who work or use the centre are protected.”
The far-right protests were organised after three children were murdered in a knife attack in England earlier this week.
Bebe King (6), Elsie Dot Stancombe (7) and Alice Dasilva Aguiar (9) died at a Taylor Swift-themed children’s event in Southport on Monday.
Axel Muganwa Rudakubana (17), has since been charged with their murders and ten counts of attempted murder.
After the murders false social media claims suggested the suspect was a refugee.
The unfounded claims have been linked to unrest that broke out in several English towns and cities, including Southport.
Christian Church leaders have also hit out at the far-right protest plans.
Catholic bishop Alan McGuckian, of Down and Connor diocese, said that “standing in solidarity and seeking an honest dialogue with our sisters and brothers from different cultures and religions is the only authentic Christian way forward”.
“I make an appeal calling for all to remain calm, to seek peace and to promote community harmony,” he added.
“Let us not be influenced by messengers of fear and misinformation.”
Rev Trevor Gribben, Clerk of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland, said it is important to take note of the comments made by senior police officers this week.
“As the Police Service seeks to establish what may or may not happen on Saturday, Mr Boutcher referred to the calls to protest as ‘poisonous nonsense’.
“Hatred against any section of the community is indeed poisonous, and is not only wrong, but entirely anti-Christian.”
In a statement the Methodist Church said: “We stand against all narratives that divide people based on race and nationality or that undermine social cohesion and law and order”.
“The shocking knife attack in Southport last Monday where three children were killed and many others injured, saddened, and horrified us all,” the statement added.
“However, to use this attack as a pretext for anti-immigration protests is abhorrent.”
A spokesman for the Church of Ireland said it “has acknowledged the impact of anti-refugee and anti-migrant hatred in our communities, through a resolution of our governing body, the General Synod.
“In our ministries, we seek to counter the language of hatred against refugees and other migrants at the local level and to communicate a strong message of Christian welcome to all.”
Chief Superintendent Stephen Murray said police are aware of the social media posts and calls to block roads.
He said police are also aware of the planned march to the Islamic Centre in south Belfast, which he said has not been notified to the Parades Commission.
“It is unclear at this time what the actual provenance for these posts or appetite for this activity is,” he said.
“We will continue to plan a proportionate policing response and will continue to engage with those groups likely to be affected by any protest activity.”
He encouraged anyone planning to attend protests “to engage” with police.
