A protest described as a stand against “illegal migrant gangs, paedophiles, drug pushers, human traffickers, slum landlords and prostitutes” has been arranged in Portadown for Thursday evening, June 12.
Information surrounding the action – as shared by the Loyalist Edgarstown Bonfire Facebook page – reads: “Attention people of Portadown and surrounding areas.
“It’s time to take a stand and stop welcoming these illegal migrant gangs flocking into our town, pedophiles [sic], drug pushers, human traffickers, prostitutes you have running our streets day and night, putting the fear of God into our women and children.”
It is understood that a meeting which had previously been organised for Tuesday night (June 10) was a “no show due to the short notice”.
The meeting is now outlined to go ahead on Thursday evening, leaving from Jervis Street at 7.30pm before making its way into the town centre.
It will then progress onto Thomas Street, where the organisers say the “so called HMOs that the greedy slum landlords are pushing on us” are allegedly located.
Finally, the gathering will work its way over to Edward Street to protest outside the hostel which it says houses “all the scum and pedophiles [sic] from all over the country”.
The poster outlining information for the protest states: “Our town has become the worst from Lurgan to Dungannon, Portadown has the highest amount of foreign nationals, HMOs and convicted sex offenders [sic].
“Let’s make that change, get off your seat and be a part of making a safe country for our kids’ futures.”
Assistant Chief Constable Ryan Henderson said: “We are aware of social media posts calling for protests across Northern Ireland this evening and in the week ahead.
“We urge anyone who plans to attend these protests to engage with us as we will be doing our part to ensure the safety of participants and to facilitate the lawful exercise of freedom of expression.
“Police will not tolerate a repeat of the scenes we saw last night in Ballymena and other parts of Northern Ireland.
“We will continue to diligently monitor the situation to ensure an appropriate and proportionate policing response and we will be engaging with groups likely to be affected by any protest activity.”
Further advice and information can be found here – https://www.psni.police.uk/
Meanwhile, Sinn Féin MLA John O’Dowd has urged all political representatives to show leadership and call for a boycott of the protest.
“Reports of a racist protest being organised in Portadown by faceless elements are deeply disturbing and disgraceful,” said the Upper Bann MLA.
“I am calling on all politicians, particularly those with influence in the greater Portadown area, to distance themselves from this protest and to publicly encourage a boycott.
“Anything less would be a total abdication of leadership at a time when it is needed most.
“We have already seen the misery that racist thugs have inflicted on the people of Ballymena and elsewhere — those scenes must not be repeated in Portadown.”
