Thousands gathered in Belfast on Saturday for an anti-racism rally following two nights of unrest triggered by a violent stabbing earlier in the week. The demonstration, organized by the Unite Against Racism group, saw participants carrying signs with messages such as “Hate is the only threat to our streets” and “Belfast stands against racism.”

The unrest followed the viral circulation on social media of a video showing a man attacking another with a knife in the street on Monday night. The victim, Stephen Ogilvie, remains hospitalized, while a Sudanese man appeared in court on Wednesday charged with attempted murder.

Protesters expressed their dismay at the recent violence and community tensions. Hilary Hunter, 63, a participant at the rally, said she was there because she was “just disgusted at what’s going on, our beautiful country,” and emphasized that those responsible for the unrest did not represent the broader community.

The disturbances have raised concerns about targeted intimidation and sectarian divisions in Northern Ireland. Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn condemned the disorder, highlighting reports of residents being intimidated, including masked individuals forcing people from their homes based on their skin color. Benn described incidents of individuals being stopped in their cars and questioned about their nationality on their way to work as “completely unacceptable.”

Local councilor Seamas de Faoite of the Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP), Northern Ireland’s main nationalist party, described the public turnout as a response to “racist violence” that had left many too frightened to return to their homes. He noted that organizations across Belfast have been actively assisting those displaced by the unrest.

The recent events come against a backdrop of long-standing divisions in Northern Ireland, where historical sectarian conflict between primarily Catholic, pro-Irish republicans and Protestant, pro-UK unionists lasted until the Good Friday Agreement in 1998. Joanne Hughes, a professor at Queen’s University Belfast, pointed out that despite the peace accord, significant community segregation and division persist, particularly in deprived areas.

Immigration remains a contentious issue in both the UK and Ireland, often sparking protests, sometimes violent, in recent years. The rise of the hard-right Reform UK party, led by Nigel Farage, reflects deepening debates on national identity and migration policies in the region.