Sir, - Congratulations to Finlan O'Toole for his column "Race Issues reflect shameful double standards" (May 30th). In almost three weeks of media hysteria on the immigration issue O'Toole's article is one of the first serious presentations of an anti racist viewpoint. Unattributed and anonymous statements from the public, shopkeepers, etc., stating that refugees are "shoplifters" and "beggars" are printed almost daily. The statements of some politicians about "floods of immigrants are also contributing to the general climate of racism during the election campaign.
The Irish Independent/IMS poll finding that 56 per cent of those questioned expressed antirefugee feeling shows that there is a reservoir of racist views among Irish people. This will be a source of comfort to the isolated racists and fascists who may be encouraged to attack black people and East Europeans now resident here.
The scapegoating of refugees and lone parents - those least able to answer back - has been a big feature of this election. "We should remember that anti immigrant feeling in Germany in the early 1990s led to the growth of neo Nazi gangs who carried out violent attacks and murders. - Yours, etc.,
Anti Fascist Action,
Dublin 7.