On the evening of 10 June, less than 24 hours after a knife attack left a survivor with life-long injuries, Belfast was brought to a standstill by crowds of masked individuals moving street to street. According to eyewitness accounts and reports from the ground, the groups targeted anyone perceived as a migrant based on skin color, regardless of legal citizenship or immigration status, blaming racialized communities for the actions of an individual.
The Escalation of Street Violence
Live news coverage on the evening of 10 June captured homes and cars being torched as residents fled moments before their properties were engulfed in flames. Video footage reviewed by observers showed young men kicking down doors and setting living rooms on fire. This unrest marks the third year in a row of racist violence during riots directed at racialized communities in Northern Ireland, fitting into a wider pattern of anti-immigrant sentiment and xenophobia seen across the United Kingdom and the European Union, where chants of “send them back” have echoed in public spaces.
Emergency Mobilization and Solidarity Networks
In response to the unrest, local residents, community groups, and migrant organizations established a grassroots solidarity network. What began as a small emergency WhatsApp group on the first night of the riots rapidly expanded into a multi-neighborhood operation involving thousands of volunteers. By the day after the outbreak, a makeshift solidarity hub was established in a city-centre church.
Volunteers organized into specialized groups based on geographic area, specific needs, and emergency levels. Tasks included maintaining spreadsheets of safe refuges for those who fled their homes in fear, sorting donated supplies for displaced families, and preparing meals and vats of tea. Entertainers provided activities for children, while small groups led by the Community Action Tenants Union (CATU) deployed to Belfast streets to non-violently confront rioters and counter intimidation.
Refuge and Ongoing Community Support
During the initial days of the response, the solidarity network safely relocated more than 507 racialized men, women, and children to volunteers’ homes, community centers, and churches. Six weeks after the initial violence, requests for assistance continue to reach the network, which now spans the north, east, west, and south of Belfast.
Established organizations such as Participation & Practice of Rights (PPR) and the Anaka Women’s Collective helped lay the groundwork for this response. Concurrently, a global fundraiser established to support those affected by the attacks has raised more than £250,000 in donations. Across sectors including education, faith groups, arts organizations, and sports clubs, residents continue to organize anti-racism events, fundraise, and work to reclaim public spaces to ensure community safety.
