14 March 2013
Video: Dáil protest against rise in anti-Traveller racism and apartheid calls
Sinn Féin TD Dessie Ellis says recent events reminiscent of 'dark days of Alabama' in USA before civil rights
RACISM against Travellers was highlighted at a Dáil protest on Wednesday by 300 people including Sinn Féin TDs Gerry Adams, Dessie Ellis and Pádraig Mac Lochlainn with Senator Trevor Ó Clochartaigh.
Independent TDs Finian McGrath and Thomas Pringle, Labour TD Aodhán Ó Ríordáin, Richard Boyd Barrett TD and Socialist Party leader Joe Higgins TD also took part along with other TDs.
The event was organised by the Irish Traveller Movement in response to the rise in openly racist comments by politicians and judges as well as the burning of a house allocated to a Traveller family in Ballyshannon, County Donegal, in recent weeks.
One Donegal Fianna Fáil councillor called for apartheid-style segregation of Travellers.
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