Fascist gangs have struck again in Lanesborough, County Longford by trying to burn a building that was to house 80 Ukrainian refugees.
Just like in Ringsend, their arson attack put a whole street in danger as the fire could have engulfed nearby buildings.
Lanesborough is just the latest in about twenty arson attacks that have occurred around the country. Yet nobody has been arrested. This is in stark contrast to police actions against Palestine protestors.
These are fascist actions designed to intimidate. Fascists have little interest in any form of democracy but claim to act ‘for the people’. They are a tiny minority of hatemongers that need to be faced down. But local representatives of the right-wing parties often give them cover by pretending there are ‘legitimate concerns’.
Mayo County Council has even voted to stop all cooperation with the government department responsible for housing refugees.
We need to call out those who began by whipping up hate against ‘unvetted’ single men and are now so emboldened that they have extended their hate campaign to all refugees.
This country could not function without the migrants who help run the heath service or hospitality. The attack on vulnerable asylum seekers is just the thin end of a racist agenda to attack migrants.
Let’s stand up against racist hate – and face them down.
