Immigrant Council seeks racism-free public transport

The Immigrant Council of Ireland (ICI) has launched a new awareness campaign across the greater Dublin area calling for racism-free public transport.

Working in collaboration with Dublin City Council and the National Transport Authority, the ICI will hang posters at more than 1,000 sites across Dublin's bus, train and tram transport network encouraging people to report incidents of racism they either experience or witness.

The posters, which will also be on buses and Dart services travelling to Kildare, Meath and Wicklow, show a large red hand calling for passengers to 'stop' racism. 'There's no room on board for racism and discrimination,' the poster tells public transport users.

Speaking at the launch of the initiative today, Lord Mayor of Dublin Oisín Quinn said the poster campaign would help increase awareness not only of racism on public transport but across the wider community.

“While Dublin has escaped the rise in right wing extremism which has emerged in other parts of Europe, there can be no room for complacency,” said Mr Quinn. “By acting together we are delivering the strongest possible message that racism is not acceptable in Dublin 2014.”