Black and Irish

Meet the voices shaping the future conference conversation. 🎤✨ Our speakers bring a wealth of lived experience, leadership, and expertise to the table — from community advocacy to the halls of government. This is a panel that truly reflects the richness of Black and Irish identity. Your seat is waiting.

This Saturday, May 30th at 2pm the is calling on you to meet at the Garden of Remembrance in a march for Justice. We want to make a statement that we will not stop campaigning for answers, accountability and justice. This is a peaceful protest and a coming together to reaffirm our solidarity with the family of Yves and the broader Congolese and African communities in Ireland.

If you’re free this Saturday, please join us!

Proud to have .ie, Investors in Diversity Silver 2025, as our partner for our 2026 Conference: Shaping the Future.

Tomorrow we announce, we plan, we act!

We're sold out but follow our socials for live updates from the room.

📅 Friday 29 May, Aungier St.

The Black & Irish x APNI Conference takes place this Friday at TU Dublin, Aungier Street. A space for courageous conversation, connection and collective action.
Tickets in bio 🎟️

At the instruction of the Family of Yves Sakila, we are launching the campaign. Our intention is to convene a diverse and inclusive coalition that will work hard to ensure Justice for Yves and his family.

If you would like information or would like register interest, please write to [email protected]

Please follow the Instagram account where we will update on the campaign and any news.

Share this with the person you’re bringing to the Unity protest 🧑🏾‍🐰‍🧑🏿👩🏼‍🐰‍👩🏽👨🏻‍🐰‍👨🏿

Key details - we are meeting on the Merrion Sq. side. This is a peaceful protest. We will not allow ourselves to be drawn out as we know what we are standing for. The protest will run from 1-3 with speakers, spoken word and singers.

Come out and join us if you can! We would love your support on what is the first of many more outings!

IT’S TIME TO UNITE!!!

We are calling for a peaceful protest to take place tomorrow, Thursday the 21st of May from 1-3pm at the heart of power in our country, Leinster house.

We are calling this peaceful protest to show that we will keep pushing for equality, fairness and justice in this country. Yves Sakila was killed in broad daylight and we demand justice for this.

If you are someone who believes that what happened is wrong, that we need to create a more equal and inclusive Ireland and that justice must prevail, then join us tomorrow at 1pm at Leinster house.

Solidarity with the Congolese community!
Solidarity with the African community!
Solidarity with all Black and Ethnic Minority communities facing discrimination!

More details to follow on receipt of Garda advice.

Black & Irish is aware of events that took place on the 15th of May on Henry St. Dublin, which has resulted in the death of a man. The man is believed to be Mr Yves-Sakila. We have seen a video circulating on social media which shows a man being held down by a number of people, believed to be security guards, using their hands, bodies and knees to pin him to the ground. One person is seen in the video to be using his knee to put his weight onto Mr. Yves-Sakila’s head and neck area. It is believed at this point that Mr. Yves-Sakila has died from suspected asphyxiation.

There are no words to describe this. Regardless of what had happened prior to this event unfolding, no one should have to face this level of excessive force. There is no crime in Ireland that is punishable by death. This unfortunately resembles too many cases that we can look back to, where excessive force is used against a black person. We are deeply disturbed by this. We understand the pain, anger and deep sadness that this is causing many people from all walks of life. We particularly recognise the harm that this is causing to the Congolese community of which Mr. Yves-Sakila was a member.

What we need now is an approach to this that sees that Mr. Yves-Sakila is recognised for the human being he was. Time for the family, friends and community of Mr. Yves-Sakila to grieve and process this loss. A thorough and swift investigation by An Garda Siochana. For accountability to be ensured for those who have used such lethal force and, most importantly, for the community and its allies to unite on this. We must not allow those with ulterior motives and malignant agendas to use this as a tool to divide us.

Right now, our thoughts are with the family and friends of Mr. Yves-Sakila and the broader Congolese community who have had to carry heavy burdens in recent times. Black & Irish and many other organisations are ready to support actions that result in getting all the answers needed for Mr. Yves Sakila.

———ENDS—————

For comment - contact [email protected]

Tomorrow is Africa Day!

A celebration of the African continent and African community here in Ireland! We’re celebrating the day by curating the spoken word area!

Come along to see a panel discussions, story telling, interviews and spoken word poetry with .poetry ❤️

If Africa has a special place in your heart or if you want to learn more, then is the place to be tomorrow! 🌍

In 4K. Former Taoiseach Bertie Ahern has been recorded expressing his opinions of Ukrainians, Poles, Africans and Muslims. In the video he expresses the fact he is “Concerned about the Africans” and the “Next generation of Muslims”. In the video he also states that he has said this to “Jim”. This being Minister of Justice, Jim O’Callaghan.

Bertie Ahern’s government brought in the direct provision system which is seen as an international human rights violation. . . I guess we know now how he felt all along.

It also raises SIGNIFICANT concerns as to what conversations government are having behind closed doors. What advice they’re getting and how that is influencing Irish immigration policy. A fair and robust immigration system cannot be formed with biases against certain groups.

We need answers from Government and the Fianna Fáil party as to what their position is and what they make of this.

Ireland, we need to talk about Misogynoir. . . .