It's disingenuous to claim that placing an effigy of asylum seekers atop a bonfire in Moygashel is apolitical or unrelated to the 12th July traditions. The bonfire itself is part of a long-standing cultural and political ritual tied to loyalist identity and the commemoration of King William III’s victory. When that tradition is used to burn symbols of vulnerable people fleeing war and persecution—complete with placards like “Stop the Boats” and “Veterans Before Refugees”—it becomes a clear act of political protest.
The stereotype of undocumented male migrants as inherently criminal or dangerous is not only false—it’s harmful. Studies consistently show that undocumented immigrants are less likely to commit crimes than native-born citizens.
When effigies of asylum seekers are burned in public rituals, and undocumented men are vilified in discourse, it’s not just tasteless—it’s dangerous. These acts normalize hostility toward people who are already marginalized. Calling it “just tradition” or “not political” is a way of dodging accountability. And we should all be brave enough to call it what it is.