In Ballymena's wake of violence, six months on, fear lingers in the air. As recently as last summer, locals had clashed with people from various nationalities, with a chilling cry echoing down Clonavon Terrace: "Where are the foreigners?" Many residents believed this was not an attack on everyone who is not white but rather on the Roma community alone.
While police have labeled it as a pogrom, prompting headlines worldwide, some still deny that this targeted the entire foreigner demographic. One resident acknowledged that while his community needs to address social issues but believes the violence was against certain people and says there's no good reason why they should be pushed out of their homes.
Some locals say that violence in Ballymena was not intended for everyone who isn't white, only targeting the Roma community. While others think it is regrettable that such measures were taken to remove people from their homes and are now calling for those who remain to continue working in various sectors of the town's economy.
Local authorities have been tight-lipped about this incident, with officials declining interview requests, sparking accusations that they want to sweep the whole thing under the rug. Many locals fear retaliation if they openly discuss what happened, although some community members believe it is not being discussed enough and need more action to be taken against hate crimes in Ballymena.
In Northern Ireland as a whole, there was a sharp rise in incidents against people of colour last year with 95% of the town's residents believed to be white.
While police have labeled it as a pogrom, prompting headlines worldwide, some still deny that this targeted the entire foreigner demographic. One resident acknowledged that while his community needs to address social issues but believes the violence was against certain people and says there's no good reason why they should be pushed out of their homes.
Some locals say that violence in Ballymena was not intended for everyone who isn't white, only targeting the Roma community. While others think it is regrettable that such measures were taken to remove people from their homes and are now calling for those who remain to continue working in various sectors of the town's economy.
Local authorities have been tight-lipped about this incident, with officials declining interview requests, sparking accusations that they want to sweep the whole thing under the rug. Many locals fear retaliation if they openly discuss what happened, although some community members believe it is not being discussed enough and need more action to be taken against hate crimes in Ballymena.
In Northern Ireland as a whole, there was a sharp rise in incidents against people of colour last year with 95% of the town's residents believed to be white.
. We see our darker selves reflected back at us and it's terrifying. I mean, who hasn't felt like an outsider in their own community? 
But the thing that really gets me is how easily we can turn a blind eye to our own biases and prejudices. It's like, what if we all took a step back and said 'wait a minute, this isn't just about the Roma community'? What if we started seeing the humanity in everyone, regardless of their skin color or nationality? 
We need to start having those conversations and holding each other accountable for our actions. It's not going to be easy, but it's necessary if we want to create a more inclusive, compassionate society. And to all the folks who are afraid to speak out against hate crimes...I see you 
. Your voices matter, even if they're whispered in the dark 
.
On one hand, I feel like we need to hold people accountable for their actions, but on the other hand, shouldn't we be giving them a chance to explain themselves before jumping to conclusions?
It's wild that it's been six months since this crazy incident happened and still nobody's talking about what really went down. I mean, come on, if it wasn't a full-on attack on foreigners, then why are we even having this conversation? 
It's just not right.
it's not okay that ppl were targeted just 'cause they're from another country or community... it's like, we should all be treated with respect & dignity no matter where we're from 
and I feel for the Roma community who got hurt by this. The fact that some locals think its only against them is still super concerning 
but what bothers me more is that ppl are too scared to speak up about it 
. i think the police should be more transparent about what really went down and give a clear answer on whether it was just against roma ppl or if its broader than that 
. we cant let fear and hate take over our communities, we gotta stand up for what is right and make sure everyone feels safe and included 
i think its time for local authorities to come clean and acknowledge whats going on, maybe they should've handled the situation better from the start? 
I mean, these people are still talking about who was targeted in this violence like it's some kind of game. Newsflash: everyone deserves respect regardless of their background! And what really gets me is that local authorities won't even talk about it... it's like they're trying to hide something. 
, but at the same time, we can't jump to conclusions without all the facts. Some of these residents are genuinely worried about losing their jobs and feeling threatened by the presence of immigrants in their community 
...
I FEEL BAD FOR THE ROMA COMMUNITY, THEY MUST BE GOING THROUGH AN AMAZING Amount OF STRESS AND FEAR RIGHT NOW!!! 
. The fact that locals are downplaying it and saying it wasn't a full-on attack on foreigners just seems off. And what's up with all these officials dodging interview requests? It's like they're trying to cover something up 
. I mean, 95% of the town's residents being white is already suspicious, but add this to it... something don't feel right 
.
. We need answers and we need action 
. Hate crimes shouldn't be swept under a rug, they should be addressed head-on 
we need to be having more conversations about this kinda stuff and making sure people who get targeted for their differences are protected 
... it sounds like such a terrifying and isolating experience for those affected by the violence, especially the Roma community. It's heartbreaking that people are still being treated unfairly just because of their background or where they come from. I can imagine how scary it must be to feel targeted and not know what the future holds.
.
. Can't believe it's been six months since this happened. People are saying that just 'cause some folks from other nationalities got targeted doesn't mean all foreigners were, but I think that's what a lot of people need to understand - it's not about nationality, it's about being an outsider in a community where they don't belong. It's like, if you're feeling like you don't fit in, that's not your community's problem, yours is. We need to start having some real conversations about what went down in Ballymena and how we can make sure this doesn't happen again 
. We need to have real conversations about racism and xenophobia in Northern Ireland, especially when 95% of the population is white 
and it's not even about targeting just roma people but also a reflection of the deep-seated racism in northern ireland as a whole 
️. it's not fair to those who were affected and their families that they're still living with fear 
. We need more ppl speaking out against hate crimes and demanding justice for those affected. Local authorities gotta step up & be more transparent about what happened 
, but some people are really struggling to admit that what happened was indeed a pogrom 
. Like, come on guys, the video footage is clear as day... where are the deniers? 
. If we don't acknowledge and address these issues now, it's only going to get worse