Responding to reports of violence across north Belfast and Northern Ireland, Celine McStravick, Chief Executive Officer at NICVA, said:
"We completely condemn the scenes of violence, intimidation and hate crime that targeted ethnic minority families and communities in north Belfast and across Northern Ireland last night.
"These acts of racism are attempts to break the bonds that keep our communities together. They will never succeed because those bonds are so strong.
"We will stand shoulder to shoulder with the families and communities affected by this violence.
"Racism must be eliminated from society. It is everyone’s responsibility to confront it.
"NICVA will continue to work with our partners across the voluntary and community sector, civil society, and the NI Executive to promote peace, inclusion, and respect for every person.
"In this moment, we call for calm, compassion, and courageous collective leadership."