Thousands of demonstrators gathered in Belfast on Saturday to denounce anti-immigrant rioters who set fire to homes and cars earlier in the week after a brutal stabbing blamed on an asylum seeker.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The anti-racism rally came after nights of fiery violence in parts of Northern Ireland following the arrest of a 30-year-old man from Sudan on charges of attempted murder in a stabbing that left a man partly blind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Protests turned violent when groups of masked men set fire to several homes they believed to house immigrants, torched a bus and pelted police with bricks, bottles and firebombs. More than two dozen people were left homeless and 12 police officers were injured in what officials called \u201cthuggery.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAll it takes is for one person who\u2019s not white and local to commit a crime and that fire of racism is rekindled,\u201d Elaine Crory told the crowd gathered outside Belfast City Hall.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Peaceful demonstrators carried signs saying, \u201cThe problem is evil & violence not race,\u201d \u201cYour racism is not patriotism\u201d and \u201cProtect people not prejudice.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Newlyweds Cara Bell and Matthew Richardson said it was a happy coincidence to emerge from getting married in City Hall and joining the peaceful demonstration after the ugly violence they witnessed earlier in the week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt\u2019s important to note that things like today really show that this is not the general feeling of people in Belfast,\u201d Bell said, noting it was \u201ca week where you\u2019ve seen the worst of humanity and the best of humanity in Belfast.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Despite calls for calm by officials and the family of the victim, far-right and anti-immigrant figures were blamed for whipping up protests in several place across the U.K. earlier in the week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Disorder in Glasgow, Scotland, targeted minorities and terrified worshippers at a mosque went into lockdown, police said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On Saturday, an anti-racism group rallied thousands to reclaim Glasgow streets and \u201cstand up to the far right.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The group was met by a much smaller contingent of mostly men who appeared to make Nazi salutes and shouted anti-Muslim chants.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The anti-racism group shouted, \u201cNazi scum off our streets.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n