Dublin Riots: A Black Thursday

Of all days, my introvert brown-skinned, half-Palestinian, half-Syrian husband, who embraces working from home as a software engineer, is out in Dublin city centre for his work Christmas dinner. I kiss him goodbye before he takes the Luas train, oblivious to how our night is about to turn upside down.

I’ve been following the news earlier in the day. I’ve read about the horrific stabbing of kids and caretakers. As a mother of a six-year-old boy, I think of the mothers receiving the news of their worst nightmare. Why in the world would anyone commit such a terrible crime? I search but can’t find any news on its motivation or the attacker’s identity. However, the comments section on social media had other opinions. People have long ago talked about the dark web as an enigmatic, isolated online network, but today, the web is already dark.

It must be a migrant

That’s what happens when you open borders

Send them all back

I am bewildered how this seems to be always the first suggested solution to any problem recently. Who are “them” and where is “back”?

I read about plans to protest, but I don’t understand against what? Of course, we all condemn this horrendous attack. Who would be supporting it?

I text my husband to stay away from Parnell Street, where the protest is planned to take place. He informs me the tram driver announced he is stopping at St. Stephen’s Green, just a couple of stations ahead, due to problems taking place…