I enjoy a good rally, I really do.

I went to one yesterday with friends and it was an uplifting, wonderful and affirming event. The atmosphere was great, the people around me were lovely and I saw quite a few people I know. I got hugs, I had laughs and I sang chants that affirmed my political and ontological beliefs and viewpoints. I am so glad I went and I went because I want our streets to be safe and welcome places for all. I even spent £60 at my local printers getting a professional placard printed (they did a great job and I was delighted with the results and loads of people loved the work including this new married couple).

I wanted to send a clear message to the masked rioters of Belfast that they are the problem, and they are terrorising innocent people. I’m glad I went, I genuinely am.

Since attending, I have been reflecting on the point of these mass, public protests and whether they achieve their desired outcomes. I believe they achieve outcomes, but they may not be the outcomes that attendees hope for.

To me what they undeniably create is a sense of community, solidarity and connection, for those who share the same views and perspectives. They bring people together and they are inspiring. The speakers, crowd and placards all echo each other and create a beautiful noise. The echoes are great, but we need more than echo chambers to drive political change.

I have come to think that most of these events do not achieve the political change desired and craved, but they are important in terms of consciousness shifting, awareness raising and community building. Good, well attended protests get media attention too as they create a public spectacle. But I do not believe they will ever end racism, stop further violence or injustice or be taken seriously by those with power. I consider they may benefit those in power inadvertently; as they create something they have to use public funds to contain and manage. They give the political elite an opponent to fight, master and contain, rather than a respected ally or entity to listen to and engage with.

Yesterday one of my favourite moments was when our prime minister’s name was mentioned. It was the only time the crowd booed vehemently, and it was incredible the speed with which they responded to his name. I actually chortled at the crowd and the sentiment. I wasn’t quick enough to boo and my laughing meant I was unable to join in at all. The theatrics of it were brilliant, and in my opinion very, very funny. Who that man serves, only history can tell.

Yesterday at the protest the speakers made many key points about what had happened on the streets of Belfast over the previous week. It was awful to hear about the fear experienced by many people of colour and how little was done to stop the attacks on people’s homes, businesses and families. It was reported that only 19 arrests had been made, yet the content online suggests that hundreds of criminals remain free to continue to terrorise with impunity.

The most powerful thing I heard was how communities had been tasked with protecting people. One speaker told the crowd that the police had asked them to support them in doing their job. The police had apparently asked community volunteers to do their job. That was the most powerful statement I heard at that event, as it was the truth and a reflection of the state and their priorities. I like the truth, even when it is not what we want to hear, because it means we know where we are. The truth, with regards to race riots, is the police cannot do much about them. As Gloria Steinem once wrote – “The truth will set you free, but first it will piss you off!”

Over the years I have been involved and attended many, many protests.  I have seen things escalate and get worse and governments ignore the cries and concerns of sometimes millions of people without batting an eyelid- Tony Blair and the “Not in my name” protests were the first mass public protest where I saw governmental contempt for people from the top. I will never forget how shameless he was and now look at him… Tony Blair and the like are more dangerous than those rioting thugs, as they have the power to stop terrorism and they don’t use it. They arguably profit from it.

I suppose what I am trying to say is that mass peaceful protesting is really good for community, connection and generating feelings of hope, but it will never be enough to protect us from injustices and terrorism. In my opinion, race riots look to potentially become another cultural summer calendar event in Northern Ireland. The police are not only being targeted by these terror groups but they seem unable to enforce law and order to protect us from them.

When the sun is out, it looks like wheelie bins and police cars will burn.  Until the police and the state start taking violence on our streets seriously, it will be left to communities to do their work for them. We will protect ourselves and our homes, as it seems those with power and influence, don’t care and don’t want to protect us.

Until then, I’ll see you at the next rally and keep protesting.