The Workers Party calls on the political representatives in those areas where this racist hate fest is taking place, with people destroying property and burning families out of their homes, to call what is happening by its proper name- naked and ugly racism.

The burning of Larne Leisure Centre with staff and service users inside took place because an elected politician who is a minister didn't just blow a dog whistle; he used a bullhorn. Those racist thugs who set fire to the Centre did not care who they killed. There would seem to be more violence planned for coming nights and it is worse than pointless for politicians to say, ‘gather but be peaceful’.

The people engaged in this violence are not interested in any form of peaceful gathering and are out to spread hatred and fear in our communities. Thugs are using and will use any excuse to intimidate people from ethnic minority backgrounds who have made their homes in communities across Northern Ireland.

This violence is being orchestrated by extreme right-wing forces, and it is time for our politicians to name and shame. It is not for our politicians to tell these people, ‘we understand your fears and issues’. What fears and issues do they have? Which entitles them to destroy homes and property? They are not about protecting women and girls they have never done so in the past.

We have had to watch communities burned and destroyed; PSNI members have been injured and yet very few arrests have been made. The outside world is watching, and some may be puzzled as to why a 72-year-old Jewish grandmother was arrested on a charge of criminal damage for placing a sticker on an ATM as a protest against the complicity of Barclays Bank in genocide, while a few miles away these masked racist thugs are roaming our streets openly committing hate crimes.