Fear and loathing in Belfast as racism rears its ugly head...

Over thirty Roma families, including many young children, were forced to leave their homes in South Belfast and within a week most families left Ireland, following several weeks of sustained violent attacks. The police were slow to react and the families were left virtually unprotected.

Sports halls are places of fun, energy and exhilaration. They free us from our worries, liberate our minds and exhaust our bodies. But they are also the first port of call when profoundly distressing events unfold. After Hurricane Katrina they were mass dormitories for survivors, at Hillsborough the stadium's hall was designated a temporary mortuary and, earlier this year, they were short-term home for those made homeless by the Victoria fires. Like churches, they become places of sanctuary and suffering. More...

See also:

1. Hindu priest and family prepare to flee home in Belfast after racist attack...
2. Attackers in Northern Ireland hit church that sheltered Romanians...
3. The Russian Neo-Nazi movement...
4. It's dangerous being a foreigner in Russia these days...