Assembly to Show Support For Day of Solidarity

The Northern Ireland Assembly will show its opposition to racism and its support for Saturday’s day of solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement by lighting Parliament Buildings yellow.

Speaker of the Assembly, Alex Maskey MLA said, “In the Assembly on Monday, all parties were united in their condemnation of events surrounding the death of George Floyd in the United States. The Assembly Commission has now accepted, by consensus between the parties, an approach from a coalition of local ethnic minority and anti-racism groups to show support during Saturday’s planned day of solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement.

“Parliament Buildings will therefore be lit in yellow on Saturday evening as a strong and visible symbol of the Assembly and community’s opposition to racism.

“The Assembly Commission is extremely mindful that the Assembly has passed restrictions during the COVID 19 pandemic, including on mass gatherings, to protect public health.  Therefore, initiatives, such as the illumination of Parliament Buildings, are more important than ever at this time to provide a means of demonstrating the community’s solidarity against racism which complies with the regulations and social distancing.

“These are difficult and abnormal times but the Assembly Commission is united in recognising the importance of giving a clear public message that racism, in all its forms and wherever it is found, is unacceptable.”

ENDS

Notes to Editors:

The groups and organisations that requested Parliament Buildings to be lit yellow were:

• the North West Migrants Forum,
• the African and Caribbean Support Organisation Northern Ireland,
• Horn of Africa People's Aid Northern Ireland,
• Ethnic Minority Sports Organisation Northern Ireland and
• United Against Racism Belfast

For media inquiries please contact:

Communications Office

Northern Ireland Assembly

Email: info@niassembly.gov.uk