A mass anti-racism rally in central Belfast has heard vows that those spreading hate and division in society will not be allowed to win.
Around 15,000 people are attending the event at City Hall this afternoon.
Earlier, crowds joined the Belfast Welcomes Diversity march as it made its way from Writers’ Square to City Hall.
People carried banners saying “Ulster says no to racism”.
Organisers said up to 15,000 people took part in the march. The crowd chanted “Whose streets? Our streets” and “Belfast is anti-racist”.
The march was organised by United Against Racism.
Its chair Fiona Doran said: “Today was an amazing celebration of all that is good about our diverse city.
“Over 160 organisations, and 15,000 people, took part in the march, which attracted people from all over the city and from all backgrounds.
“The vast majority here are opposed to the hate of the far-right. These are our streets, and we will not concede them to the racist forces who want to divide us.”
The rally at City Hall, where crowds have now gathered, is hearing calls for zero tolerance of hate and division.
Speaking at the rally, People Before Profit MLA Gerry Carroll said: “We are here today to say no to racism. We are here today to say no to the poison of fascism. We are here today to say that migrants are welcome, that refugees are not the enemy, and that this city is an anti-fascist city.
“The racists will not win. The fascists will not win. They cannot win. Because everywhere they attempt to spread their poison well will be there. We will oppose them. Every step of the way.”
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Sporadic violence has broken out across Belfast and beyond in recent nights with homes and businesses targeted in racially-motivated attacks.
Last night a petrol bomb was thrown at a mosque in Newtownards in what police are treating as a racially-motivated hate crime. The device failed to ignite but racist graffiti was daubed on the building on Greenwell Street.
Cars were also set alight in Tavanagh Street and Sandhurst Gardens in Belfast.
Meanwhile, the rear door of a restaurant on Ormeau Road was also kicked and racial slurs shouted at workers inside.
There were also violent scenes at an anti-immigration protest in Belfast last Saturday.
Speaking at this afternoon’s rally, Patrick Corrigan, Amnesty International’s Northern Ireland director, said: “Minoritised communities are not responsible for the failure of politicians to address poverty and inequality in our society.
“Let’s be clear. Racist violence didn’t start here last Saturday.
“It didn’t start three weeks ago when eight families were put out of their homes in Antrim.
“It didn’t start three years ago when the Belfast Multi Cultural Association was burnt out by men in balaclavas.
“Racist violence has been a real and present danger here for far too long.
“But all too rarely have the racists responsible been held to account. No wonder they feel emboldened.
“Racism is a stain on our communities. Paramilitary violence is a scourge on our communities.
“This week of shame must be a wake-up call for our politicians and the police. There must be zero tolerance for racism in all its manifestations.”
Police at City Hall on Friday as two demonstrations took place (Photo by Kevin Scott)
On Friday, about 1,000 people gathered in Belfast for a counter-protest against several hundred anti-immigration demonstrators.
A heavy police presence and barriers were put in place to keep the two groups apart at Belfast City Hall, while Donegall Square North and Wellington Place were closed to traffic for several hours.
The people at the anti-immigration protest were seen holding signs with slogans such as “Shankill Road says no to illegal immigration” and chanting “Send them home”.