Nicola Grant Workers Party representative has condemned the right-wing orchestrated violence in Ballymena. She said the community came out to show solidarity and support to the family and the young girl who was sexually assaulted. Right wing forces used the event to spread hatred of ethnic minorities and to go on a rampage that destroyed homes and properties and left women and children terrified.

This was meant to be a peaceful demonstration, but it very quickly turned into a racist hate fest and the suffering of the young girl took second place to an extreme right-wing display of hatred and an excuse to spew their hatred against refugees and migrants.

Ms. Grant went on to say the people responsible for the violence don't care about women or girls and the violence they are subjected to, which can be sexual, physical and verbal, or the number of women and girls who have died through domestic violence.

These groups care nothing for their communities and their violence and racism cannot and should not be justified by any individual or organisations. They have a narrative that blames all the failure of government on people of different nationalities and religions as them and use ethnic minorities as scapegoats for everything they feel they are entitled to whilst the real reason for the lack of homes, jobs, education, and health and public services belongs to those we chose to trust with power.

In conclusion, Ms. Grant said, "the Workers Party sends this young girl and her family our solidarity and support. Our Party believes that women and girls should be able to go about their daily lives without the fear of violence or sexual assault or any other forms of abuse because of their gender."