‘Inciting a Pogrom?’ Social Media and the Racist Disorder in Ballymena and beyond during summer 2025
Published:
October 6, 2025
Policy Area(s):Confronting Prejudice, Increased Equality
Keywords:Racism and Migrant Rights
This report, published by the Committee on the Administration of Justice (CAJ) in partnership with Rabble Cooperative, examines the racist violence that erupted in Ballymena in June 2025 and quickly spread across Northern Ireland. It explores how social media narratives amplified fear and hostility, fuelling offline attacks, and how local organising efforts and political responses shaped the escalation.
Key findings show that:
- Online misinformation and anti-immigrant narratives played a central role in mobilising violence and intimidation.
- Community-based Facebook groups became hubs for sustaining anti-immigrant activity.
- Political discourse often blurred the line between condemning violence and legitimising xenophobic concerns.
- Thousands of minority ethnic residents, particularly Roma families, were displaced as a direct result.
- The report calls for urgent reforms, including stronger hate crime legislation, better policing responses, and proactive action by government, trade unions, and NGOs to challenge racist narratives and misinformation.
By documenting both online and offline dynamics, the report aims to strengthen anti-racism strategies, inform public policy, and promote collective solidarity in resisting far-right mobilisation.
You can view the full report here.