At a time when attacks on women and girls are growing, and misogyny from men and young boys is spreading, this group is openly undermining the statistics that show that violence against women and girls happens across all strata of our society. For this group to spread the false narrative that only immigrants or refugees abuse women and children is not only factually incorrect but can also be dangerously misleading. There are women’s groups and political parties who have been campaigning for decades demanding legislation and funding to be dedicated and ring fenced for the protection of vulnerable people.

Twenty-seven women in NI were murdered last year by local white males: why were this group of women silent on those deaths? Why have they never attended marches or demonstrations demanding rights for women and children against poverty, exploitation, rape, sexual harassment or any of the issues affecting women and children in Northern Ireland that has been experienced for decades.

A 2018 study of almost 1,000 victims of sexual abuse found that, more than 90% of rape and sexual assault victims knew their attacker, and only 9% of perpetrators were strangers to the victim. Twenty three percent of women were assaulted by a partner or ex-partner, 24% were assaulted by a family member, 44% were assaulted by "another known person”.

It is clear from the speeches of Ulster Pink Ladies, and the males who accompany these protests, that the primary focus is on raising and promoting racism and right-wing ideology. If they are acting in good faith, why they don’t challenge those within their own communities who abuse women and children would be beyond comprehension. Why would anyone without a racist agenda pretend that it is only foreign-born nationals that are a threat to women and children?

These women cannot get away with virtue signalling their protests and speech-making as pro-women to hide the real reason they are protesting. It is about creating racial tension and racism. If they really cared about violence against women and children, they would acknowledge it has been happening behind closed doors to our women and children for decades at the hands of local white males.

Ursula Meighan is Chairperson of The Workers Party Women’s Committee