by Alan Jacques
A LOT more work needs to be done to tackle racism and discrimination in Limerick, following a report in the Limerick Post last week that racial attacks in the city are on the rise.
A survey conducted last year by Mid-West migrants rights organization Doras Luimní found that 60 per cent of the respondents had experienced one or more incidents of racism, and as many as 80 per cent of those who experienced racism in Limerick did not report it.
In the aftermath of last week’s Limerick Post article, the group issued a strong condemnation of ongoing racial attacks in the city. They said that the situation must be dealt with through a combination of action, awareness and education.
Doras Luimní have met with shop owners affected by recent racist incidents in the city centre to discuss and develop a strategy to prevent further attacks. Meetings with Limerick Gardai ethnic liaison officers will also be scheduled in the coming days.
One Pakistani business owner on William Street who has been trading in the city centre for over a decade said his staff constantly suffer verbal abuse and the threat of violence in the store. When speaking to the Limerick Post he became visibly upset and stressed by the large number of racist attacks he and his family experience in the city on a daily basis.
“One man walked out of the shop recently with five coats costing €70 a coat. We called the Gardai but they didn’t arrive until two hours later,” he claimed.
“We pay our taxes and it’s not right that we should be treated like this. Most of our customers in Limerick are good people but we should not have to suffer racist abuse every day of the week. They call us horrible names and feel its their right to come in and steal from us. We are told ‘this is not your country’.”
Another Pakistani business owner on William Street claimed: “Travellers come into the shop on a regular basis. They talk loudly into their phones and say as clear as day ‘we’re in the Paki shop’. They don’t care that we are standing right in front of them and can hear this racist conversation.”
Integration Policy Officer at Doras Luimní, Dr Matt Cannon told the Limerick Post that racism and discrimination are happening in the city but victims and witnesses are reluctant to turn to the authorities for assistance.
“Doras Luimní gets regular reports of racism, however we feel that this is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to incidents that are happening, and that many incidents of racism and discrimination go unreported,” said Dr Cannon.
He put the reluctance to report racism and discrimination down to a number of factors such as fear of authority, lack of awareness around who to report to, and a sense of disillusionment about what can be done in regard to racist incidents.
“We would encourage anyone who has experienced, witnessed, heard about or was supporting someone who had been subjected to any form of racism to report it. By identifying the types of racism experienced, it is hoped that we can find a way to prevent further incidents and continue to move towards an intercultural Limerick where racist incidents are simply not acceptable,” he concluded.
Doras Luimní encourage anyone who has experienced racism and discrimination to report it to An Garda Siochana and/or Doras Luimní by calling 061-310318, emailing [email protected] or online at www.iReport.ie.
