Sophie Fletcher
A recent arson attack on the Belfast Multi-Cultural Association (BMCA), described by the PSNI as a hate crime, has seen thousands of people donate tens of thousands of pounds to the organisation.
Chief Inspector Gavin Kirkpatrick said that the fire is believed to have been started deliberately:
“We are treating it as a hate crime. Those who worked in or volunteered in the centre were providing much needed support to the local community. This criminal incident is unacceptable.”
In response to this, Patrick Corrigan, Director of Amnesty International in the north, set up a crowdfunding page to raise funds for the rebuilding of the BMCA food bank building.
Support has been flooding in , as all sectors of the community show their support and solidarity with the organisation.
Patrick Corrigan tweeted his thanks for the incredible amount of money raised in just a week:
“This time last week, someone set fire to the Belfast Multi-Cultural Association. In the days since, 2,730 of you have donated £69,000. From the bottom of my heart, thank you for this incredible show of solidarity for our neighbours.”
The generosity displayed by the general public sending in their donations shows that Belfast is moving on from its divided past and is moving on to a more diverse future.
The Student Social 