The Northern Ireland Assembly has been recalled to Stormont early following violent protests in Belfast last weekend. 

MLAs were summoned to return to the Northern Irish parliament on August 8th. 

In a letter to representatives, Assembly Speaker Edwin Poots said MLAs will discuss the anti-immigrant protest that happened in Belfast City Centre on Saturday. 

They will debate the motion that the Assembly “condemns the criminal damage and targeting of businesses in recent days”. 

“[It] rejects all forms of Islamophobia, xenophobia and racism; endorses the work of voluntary sector organisations combatting racism and supporting those impacted by it,” the motion reads. 

“[The Assembly] recognises the work of the Police Service of Northern Ireland and other public sector bodies protecting our communities during the recent unrest.” 

Riot police form a line on the Lower Ormeau road after people taking part in an anti-Islamic protest make their way through the area following a protest outside Belfast City Hall, 03/08/2024. Image: PA Images / Alamy Stock Photo

The motion also calls on First Minister Michelle O’Neill and Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly to finalise the draft Refugee Integration Strategy and associated Thematic Delivery Plan. 

It also called on the ministers to bring forward the renewed Race Relations Order, and set-out the process of replacing the Racial Equality Strategy 2015-2025 by the end of 2024. 

Anti-immigration protestors gathered outside Belfast City Hall on Saturday amid a wave of protests across the UK this weekend.  

Scenes of rioting and unrest have pushed Stormont and Westminster to organise emergency meetings to address growing disorder. 

Protest in Belfast

Police in Northern Ireland have charged four men for disorderly behaviour and resisting police.  

One man was charged with three counts of assaulting a police officer, while another was charged with possession of a weapon with intent to “commit an indictable offence”.  

Several business premises were destroyed amid the violent protests. 

Among the anti-immigrant protestors were people carrying Irish tricolours, along with a ‘Coolock Says No’ banner. 

People taking part in an anti-immigrant protest outside Belfast City Hall, 03/08/2024. Image: Bonzo / Alamy Stock Photo

Taoiseach Simon Harris said yesterday he spoke with Northern Irish First Minister Michelle O’Neill about the seeming presence of people from the Republic at protests.  

The Taoiseach expressed his “disgust at those flying the Irish tricolour whilst attacking police and spouting racism”.  

“This is repugnant to everything the Irish flag represents.” 

The protests in Belfast and across the UK follow the killing of three young girls at a holiday club in Southport, Merseyside, last week.  

Axel Muganwa Rudakubana, 17, is accused of the attack but there was growing misinformation online that the attacker was an asylum seeker who recently arrived in the UK.