The sight of masked men going into parks and other areas and stopping people of colour and demanding documentation to prove who they are is nothing more than 'acts of intimidation and criminal activity'.

Who or what gives these people the right to take control of our streets in this outrageous manner?

It was reported that a group of these thugs followed a man to his home in South Belfast, entered the house and questioned the occupants, making accusations about undocumented migrants living there. This was not true, and they had committed a crime by entering the house. The police have said they will act on any complaints made and other reports.

When these events came to light, the Workers Party urged the police become proactive in these areas not reactive. We said that the PSNI needed to step up patrols in these areas and arrest these thugs who are intimidating people and telling them to stay out of areas of Belfast. It is encouraging to see that at least one of these vigilantes have been arrested and the police have said they have additional targeted police patrols in east Belfast to "engage, challenge and monitor these groups and provide reassurance to the community”.

It is not that long ago we saw the exact same intimidation on the streets of Dublin and Ballymena. These people are protecting no one, they are working to a horrible agenda of hatred against migrants and refugees.

The police must continue to take decisive action to ensure that everyone walking our streets is safe. These gangs must be broken up. They had no trouble arresting two women recently on for putting a sticker on an ATM protesting genocide, and another for wearing a t-shirt with Palestine Action. Which of these activities are the greatest threat to society?

According to census 2021, 65,600 people (3.4% of the population in Northern Ireland belong to a minority ethnic group with the largest groups composed of mixed ethnicities, Black, Indian, Chinese and Filipino residents. By 2035, the number of deaths in Northern Ireland is expected to exceed the number of births.

According to a recent Stormont report “with an ageing population, and a growing shortage of young people moving into the labour market, a regular flow of young, international migrants will be essential to maintain public services and the economy in general.” From the perspective of the Workers Party, in addition to adding to the richness of life here, the vast majority of people who come here are members of an increasingly diverse working class which shares the same problems and stands in the same relationship to the capitalist class. It’s time for workers to unite.