Published Thursday, 02 July 2009
The public protest came after more than 100 Romanians opted to leave Northern Ireland after racists targeted their homes.
The incident was followed by threats against other ethnic minority groups in the city. Police have also warned Alliance party politician Anna Lo, the only member of the Northern Ireland Assembly from an ethnic minority background, that she was also under threat.
Trade unionists had appealed for the public to gather for an anti-racism rally at Belfast's City Hall on Thursday and several hundred people showed out, despite poor weather conditions.
The rally heard that migrant workers are essential to the Northern Ireland economy and enrich life in the region.
'Soft racism'
Irish Congress of Trade Unions (Ictu) assistant general secretary Peter Bunting hit out at those who said they opposed racist attacks, but who always added the word "but".
"These are the remarks you hear on radio phone-in shows. 'I condemn this, but ...'," he said.
"This is soft racism. This is racism crossed with cowardice. People without conviction accusing others of evil.
"Migrant workers are not taking our jobs. Migrant workers are not taking our benefits. Migrant workers are not taking our social housing.
"In fact, migrant workers are filling jobs which need to be done, and paying taxes which pay for public services. They are collecting far fewer benefits than they are entitled to, such as universal child benefit.
"Migrant workers are young, and highly productive workers and are having children among a general population which is getting older. The children of migrant workers are reversing plans to close schools in certain areas.
"The health service could not function without skilled immigrant labour. Our most vulnerable, our aged and our ill, are being cared for by migrants.
"We owe them."