WATCH Limerick shows unity in diversity as more than 200 people stand against xenophobia

A crowd of more than 200 people gathered in Limerick City on Sunday, April 21, to show solidarity with all communities in Limerick and across the country, spreading their message against xenophobia. Picture: Olena Oleksienko/ilovelimerick

More than 200 people gathered in Limerick City on Sunday showing solidarity with the global community in a stand against xenophobia

A crowd of more than 200 people gathered in Limerick City on Sunday to show their solidarity with all communities in Limerick and across the country, spreading their message that xenophobia is not welcome.

Following unprovoked attacks on Brazilian people in the city which has seen videos shared on social media, Limerick’s multicultural community came together in support of all of the county’s people making sure everybody knows they are welcome in the Treaty City.

John Lannon, CEO of Doras, a Limerick-based non-governmental organisation working to promote and protect the rights of refugees and migrants said, “We’re hearing increasing numbers of worries about the likelihood of attacks on the streets and we are hearing about verbal abuse.

“We see the physical attacks on the Brazilian men over the last couple of days, but it’s not only the Brazilian community. It’s other communities as well that are suffering these types of attacks. There should be no place for this in our society or in our communities. Limerick generally has been an open, welcoming community.”

Flags of countries from all over the world were waved proudly on the day as Roberto Leonardo Gonçalves Jnr, a Brazilian man who received stitches above his eye following an attack, led the crowd on a march through the city’s main street having gathered on Bedford Row.

Roberto has since created a GoFundMe page in a bid to raise €7,000 to help him return home as he explains he originally hoped to enjoy summer in Ireland before leaving.

“My plan was to take advantage of the Irish summer to work hard and raise enough money to leave immediately,” the GoFundMe page reads, continuing, “However, after suffering this attack I can no longer imagine being here, the fear of walking on the street took over and unfortunately having to stay here until the end of the summer would be psychologically impossible.”

“So I come through this ‘crowdfunding’ to ask for your help so that I can anticipate my return home and in Brazil I can take care of my mental health.”

WATCH a peaceful Xenophobia Protest in Limerick 💚🇧🇷

John Lannon, CEO of @DorasIRL speaks about why racism and racist attacks have no place in the Treaty city 👏🙏#limerick #limerickcity #lovelimerick #ilovelimerick #limerickandproud #xenophobia #protest pic.twitter.com/XwBUBemwVd— #LimerickandProud (@ilovelimerick) April 21, 2024

Since creating the fundraiser, Roberto has received more than 100 donations and messages from people wishing him well, expressing their anger and sadness at what happened, and offering words of support.

Mr Lannon explained Limerick has attracted people from all over the world who bring their skills, improving the workforce, but also highlighted the attraction of the third-level colleges and language schools in the city.

The Doras CEO said, “There are people working here, studying here from all over the world, we need to keep it like that. We need to stamp out racism. We need to ensure that the types of hate crimes that are happening around the country do not happen here in Limerick.

“We need to ensure that everything gets reported to the Gardaí, whether it’s a verbal assault, a physical assault, whatever it is, because it’s really important that we stop This shift towards violence and the shift towards abuse of people from other parts of the world, people who look, people who sound different.”

Historically Ireland has seen a diaspora all over the world and the Irish people have experienced negativity in parts of the world they have travelled to, and have also felt the warm embrace from communities, but at home has always offered the message of “Céad míle fáilte”, one-hundred-thousand welcomes.

John Lannon reminded people before thanking them for joining in support, “We need Limerick to be a welcoming, open community for everybody.”

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Pictures: Olena Oleksienko/ilovelimerick