I write this having just learned that Nigerian taxi driver Moses Ayanwole has died of his injuries after being brutally attacked by a white passenger on Dublin’s Pearse Street. I write with rage not only at the senseless murder, but also at the refusal by senior politicians and the mainstream media to use the word ‘racism’ to describe it.
On RTÉ’s Morning Ireland the representative of the Irish Taxi Drivers’ Federation spoke about the need to install CCTV cameras in taxis, but not about the issues faced by black African taxi drivers, who experience daily racism from white colleagues and passengers alike. There was nothing about many taxi ranks displaying ‘Irish drivers only’ notices, or about passengers refusing to get into taxis with black drivers, not to speak of the litany of racial slurs and insults.
This murder puts further flames onto recent racist fires. In Naas we had mayor Darren Scully, who made the decision to refuse representation to black Africans based on what he described as their “aggressive” attitude when making representations, but who insensitively argues that he ‘abhors racism in all its forms’, adding that he had many African friends (not realising this is one of the most common ‘I am not a racist, but’ ploys).
Meanwhile in Athlone, a 16-year-old black girl was raped by a group of white boys, including one white girl, in an attacked described by the Evening Herald a ‘race rape’. At least they used the ‘R’ word, but one wondered whether the reason is sensationalism or accurate reporting.
It’s been almost two years since Toyosi Shittabey was murdered in Tyrrelstown, with the wheels of justice only recently moving. At least it didn’t take the Gardaí as long as the 18 years taken the London Metropolitan Police to try the white murderers of black teenager Stephen Lawrence.
It’s necessary to point out yet again how difficult it is to speak about racism in ‘post-race Ireland’. And it’s not only because of the recession – the difficulty of mentioning the ‘R’ word has been on the increase ever since the twilight of Celtic capitalism. Note for instance President Higgins’ inaugural speech which made not one mention of immigrants, immigration, interculturalism or integration – and that from one of Ireland’s strongest supporters of human rights causes.
At the same time, Minister for Justice Alan Shatter, despite his strong support for the integration of immigrants while in opposition, is keeping away from events organised by migrants and ethnic minorities. Interestingly, despite opposing the 1989 Incitement to Hatred Act, Minister Shatter has done nothing to review this ineffectual piece of legislation. This murder should give him a reason to do so.
And importantly, on the morning of Moses Ayanwole’s death, there was yet another deportation of what the Government deems ‘failed’ asylum seekers, this time to Pakistan. The issue of asylum seekers and direct provision hostels has gone well under the radar. It seems no one in austerity Ireland – and that includes Irish human rights, anti-racism and immigrant support NGOs – wants to know.
I was delighted, however, by the initiative of a group of African leaders who last week got together to speak up against the increase of racism. While rightly demanding that the Government acts against racism, it is ultimately up to them to express their seething anger and protest against racist Ireland. And they have my full support.
Dr Ronit Lentin is head of the MPhil in Race, Ethnicity, Conflict at the Department of Sociology at Trinity College Dublin. Her column appears fortnightly in Metro Éireann.
