Arlene Foster has rejected what she called the ‘labelling’ of some white working-class people in Belfast ‘as Nazis’, following a week of rioting in Northern Ireland.
The former First Minister said underlying issues which led to violence on the streets of Belfast need to be listened to.
It follows nights of sporadic violence across the city, which have seen businesses and homes targeted and police come under attack.
Public and politicians react to disorder in Belfast
Speaking on GB News with Reform UK party leader Nigel Farage, Mrs Foster said: “I think it was right to call the Assembly, on reflection, to have a debate. Many times we’re called back to debate issues, but I think it was right to call it today.
“First of all, of course, we need to reject the violence and the thuggery and the looting that took place in many areas of our great capital city, over these past few days.
“And some of the MLAs were also gracious enough to understand that there’s something else going on; that in some of the areas of Belfast, there are real concerns that need to be addressed, and I think that those concerns haven’t really got an airing.
“They need to get an airing and they need to be listened to. Of course, you have to protect the ethnic minority communities. Of course, you have to protect their businesses. You have to make them feel that they’re welcome. You have to say to the healthcare workers that they’re doing a great job in many of our hospitals,” she continued.
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“But you can protect and listen as well. And I think what we need to do is absolutely listen to some of those concerns that have been raised with many people over this past number of days.”
Mrs Foster said some of the “labelling” was dangerous.
She added: “I really object to labelling everybody as racist, as Nazis, which has been labelled at some working-class people in Belfast. I totally reject that.
“Of course, there are people who are going to travel to engage in violence, and indeed, unfortunately I have to say as well that some of the paramilitaries are seeing it as an opportunity for them to gain control again, and that’s absolutely to be rejected.
“But that doesn’t take away from the fact that, of course, we need a police presence and we need a police reaction to what’s going on, but we also need to listen.
“If Northern Ireland can tell us anything about what’s going on, it’s that we need to listen to some of those real and genuine concerns that are there.”
Michelle O’Neill: There is no place for racism in Northern Ireland
The Assembly debate on recent racist violence took place on Thursday, with Alliance MLA Kate Nicholl making an emotional closing speech.
Several previous speakers had referred to housing, health, and education issues. Ms Nicholl was in general “very uncomfortable” with references to “legitimate concerns”.
Disorder in Belfast began last weekend, when businesses were targeted after an anti-immigration protest at City Hall on Saturday.
A senior PSNI officer has vowed there will be a “relentless” pursuit of thugs behind the violence in Belfast.