Anna Lo: UK’s only Chinese-born parliamentarian hounded out by racism

Anna Lo, the UK's only Chinese-born parliamentarian is leaving Northern Ireland politics because of continued racial abuse by loyalists.

She has reluctantly decided not to run again for the centrist Alliance Party in the next round of Stormont assembly elections in 2016 because of continued racial abuse both personally, and what she sees as a deteriorating racial climate in Northern Ireland.

In today’s Guardian, she has called for the first minister Peter Robinson to resign over his support for a born-again Christian preacher's depiction of Islam as "the spawn of the devil". As a result of Robinson’s backing for the hate Christian preacher, a number of Muslims had their homes attacked.

Anna Lo too was recently the target of a racial intimidation. During the European election campaign a loyalist mob followed her out of an east Belfast shopping centre. She explains:

They started hurling abuse at me and I decided to get out of Connswater shopping centre as quickly as possible. About three or four individuals then followed me to the car park but I kept ahead of them walking as quickly as I could.

Even when I got inside my car there was a young girl who climbed out of the wound-down window of a parked car and started shouting vile things at me. If I hadn't decided to act quickly and get out of there I don't know what would have happened to me."

So saddened by what is occurring, initially indicated that she  may even leave her beloved adopted country.

This is particularly sad because over the years Anna Lo has broken so many boundaries and glass ceilings when it comes to tackling race inequality, and getting Northern Ireland to talk about racial prejudice beyond the sectarian divide.

Most people in Northern Ireland have agreed that having the first Chinese-born politician in Stormont parliament making legislation for everyone has been such a positive element for the county.

Truth is in many ways Anna Lo has been a reluctant politician and hero. Her motivation for action has been driven by her simple belief that:

Things can be better. If you treat us with respect, we'll all flourish

But after fighting for decades, and then seeing the situation get worse not better, it’s not surprising she has decided enough is enough.

What is incredible about Lo, is the fact that even as she plans to step down, she is asking for a new generation of minorities to come forward to replace her. I hope they will. Although no one can actually replace her, I do hope they at least have some of the passion, commitment and the love for her lifelong project which seeks to bring people together respectfully, as equals for the benefit of the whole community.

We applaud you Anna Lo, and hope your statement of resignation to the politicians and the people of Northern Ireland reminds them of their commitment to race equality and decency to all.

Simon Woolley