Those opposed to the arrival of asylum seekers and refugees are not offering any solutions, according to activist group Fermoy and Mallow Against Racism.
The group held a rally outside a convent in Fermoy, County Cork, yesterday to show solidarity with those facing racism.
A group of asylum seekers, including 19 families, moved in to St Joseph's convent on Wednesday.
Misinformation
Spokesperson Kate O'Connell told Newstalk that most people in the town are welcoming, but that others are taking advantage of the situation.
"We have had people coming in from the outside who have been trying to create a lot of confusion in the town and have been engaging in a campaign of misinformation", she said.
"Unfortunately, I suppose, where there have been information gaps in the town, those gaps have been filled by misrepresentations and misinformation."
"But the people who are coming into our town aren't offering any solutions, they're only asking us to target the most vulnerable."
'Diversity is a strength'
The Fermoy and Mallow Against Racism Group organised it to show its opposition to an anti-immigration demonstration in the town on Wednesday, when the asylum seekers arrived.
Hundreds of people turned out and Ms O'Connell says that having the community support refugees is important as the town becomes more diverse.
"I think there is a majority of people in Fermoy who stand for the idea that Fermoy is a welcoming town so", she said.
"[Diversity] is something that we have always been very proud."
"Fermoy is actually very ethnically diverse."
"About one in four people in Fermoy are born overseas, so we've got a very successful town and it's very vibrant."
According to the activist group, diversity is a strength and not a weakness of the community.
"That's something that we have always been very proud of and it's something that we want to continue to kind of portray."
Main image shows a banner on display during an anti-racism rally titled 'Love Rooskey: No to Racism: Asylum Seekers Welcome', in Rooskey, Ireland.
