The chair of Multi Ethnic Sports and Culture Northern Ireland (MSCNI) has called on local leaders to amplify “the positive things that our communities bring” after reports of migrant families being intimidated in east Belfast.

According to the Irish News, social media videos have surfaced in the last month showing groups of men, sometimes including women and children, patrolling the streets in the east of the city and confronting migrant men as to their behaviour and whether they live legally in Belfast.

MSCNI chair Jahswill Emmanuel told the newspaper that migrant families are “really disturbed by what is happening”.

MESSAGES

He said: “I know of one family who are really scared of taking their child to football training. These sessions take place at night between 8pm and 9pm, and this mother is really scared about going out at that time.”

MSCNI aims to encourage participation by migrant families in local sporting clubs, and promotes cultural diversity and racial harmony. Jahswill believes it is time for local representatives to deliver clear messages on the subject of racism.

SOLUTIONS

Jahswill added: “We promote people from those communities getting involved in sporting activities, so to hear that people are scared to go is just not good enough.

“It’s a time for communities to come together and talk to each other, to find solutions.

“I think our leaders should be putting out the right message and educating people about the positive things that our communities bring.”

Read the full story in the Irish News.

Find out more about Multi Ethnic Sports and Culture Northern Ireland at mscni.co.uk

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