Racist graffiti in Portadown

Workers Party Upper Bann representative, Damien Harte, has strongly condemned a series of racist graffiti attacks in the Portadown area.

‘This type of racist abuse serves only to intimidate and create fear and divisions within the community. We must all be very clear about our response – there must be no room for racists and no room for racism’ Damien said.

‘The immediate impact of these attacks can be addressed by providing the PSNI with the information they need to secure arrests and conviction. Racially motivated crimes in Northern Ireland have been on the rise. According to the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI), in the 12 months to June 2014 racist incidents rose by 36%, from 830 to 1,132. In the same period, racist crimes increased by 51%, from 525 to 796″.

‘There is a longer term problem to address but withholding information about racist attacks tells those involved that the community is prepared to let them get away with it. We must all clearly demonstrate that that is not the case’, added Damien