Election candidates sign anti-racism protocol
OVER 30 candidates for May’s Election to Wicklow County Council came together to publicly sign an anti-racism election protocol.
Speaking following the united meeting of candidates at Wicklow County Council prior to last Monday’s monthly council meeting, Shane O’Curry of European Network Against Racism Ireland said: ‘We were delighted that over 30 candidates came together from Arklow, Baltinglass, Bray, Greystones and Wicklow town and from Fianna Fail, Fine Gael, Sinn Fein, Labour, Green Party, People Before Profit, Social Democrats, Aontu and independents. There were also another ten who sent apologies.
‘By signing the anti-racism protocol, these 40 candidates are really sending a positive message to all in County Wicklow that Wicklow is a welcoming place to all and that they will not engage in harmful rhetoric against migrants, refugees and ethnic minorities,’ said Mr O’Curry.
‘With direct provision coming to Wicklow town and with County Wicklow recently announcing that 38 Syrian families will be allocated to County Wicklow under the Irish Refugee Protection Programme (IRPP), it would be easy for local election candidates to exploit current trends and to villify migrants, refugees and ethnic minorities.
‘We in ENAR Ireland strongly commend these 40 Wicklow local election candidates for coming together in a non partisan manner and for promoting a positive welcoming message to their constituents,’ added Mr O’Curry.