People from Brazil and those of African descent in Ireland continue to experience racial profiling, discriminatory policing and have a deep lack of trust in An Garda Síochána.
That’s according to a recent study commissioned by the policing authority Still Not Heard, Still Not Safe.
CEO of the Institute of Antiracism and Black Studies Doctor Ebun Joseph told Moncrieff the results were “familiar” to her.
“One of the ones I experienced a lot would be, say I’m travelling at the airport and everybody’s going down the EU queue, then someone says, ‘Oh, non-EU that way’,” she said.
“I’m like, what is my calling card of difference? What makes you think I’m non-EU?
“Obviously I can read; this is EU, so if I’m going that way, then I should have the right to go that way.
“When somebody is then trying to make you go the other way for non-EU, that means that they’ve read something - and that’s your skin colour.”
Check In Desks at Ryanair start to build in Dublin Airport Terminal 1. Photo: Collins Photos. 19.07.2024.Dr Joesph said this profiling can become especially problematic when minority groups seek the help of the Gardaí.
“From people’s experiences that have been reported, when they call them, the time it takes for the Guards to respond is much longer,” she said.
“If people are then afraid of the system, that they won’t get equal treatment from the system that has been put there to help them, then it’s a problem.
“The report actually says that only 19% of the people interviewed said that they would trust the Guards to actually help them – that's really ridiculous.”
Educational training
According to Dr Joseph, educational training could help to combat the issue.
“I know the trolls will pick up on me again – whenever I talk about re-education [I get comments like], ‘Who is she to come and re-educate us in Ireland’,” she said.
“But if education was bad we wouldn't be in school.
"We all have to go to education because we don’t know those things naturally, we have to learn.”
Dr Joesph said many people from minority backgrounds feel particularly unsafe at the moment in the wake of recent anti-immigration protests.
Main image: Gardaí outside Leinster House as the Dáil returns from holidays, 20-9-17. Image: Leah Farrell/RollingNews.ie
