On Saturday, thousands of people gathered at Belfast City Hall for a "Together Against Hate" rally, organised by the group United Against Racism. The event was held in response to days of violent disorder across the city following a knife attack.

The disorder began after a serious assault in north Belfast on Monday night. Stephen Ogilvie sustained severe injuries, including the loss of an eye. A 30-year-old Sudanese man, Hadi Alodid, has been charged with attempted murder. He had entered Northern Ireland via Dublin and claimed asylum, and was granted leave to remain until 2028.

The attack was followed by multiple nights of violence. Masked groups targeted homes, businesses, and vehicles. A bus was burned in east Belfast, and public transport was suspended. At least 27 people were made homeless as a result of the attacks. The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) arrested 23 people. Seventeen have been charged, five bailed, and one reported to the Public Prosecution Service.

The rally began at approximately 13:00, with attendees filling Donegall Square North and spilling onto Donegall Place. Estimates of the crowd size varied, with organisers claiming up to 20,000 people attended. A smaller counter-protest of about 20 people gathered nearby, displaying Union flags. The event lasted just under two hours.

Speakers at the rally included Ivanka Antova of United Against Racism, trade union representatives, and elected officials. Lord Mayor Róis-Máire Donnelly said that diversity strengthened the city and she would not be deterred from championing it. SDLP MLA Matthew O'Toole described feeling emotional at the turnout. Green Party representative Mal O'Hara said he knew that racist groups would exploit the knife attack.

Several speakers praised the volunteers who assisted those affected by the violence, including efforts to evacuate and rehouse displaced people. A fundraiser by the Anaka Women's Collective raised over £200,000. Criticism was directed at the police and political institutions for an inadequate response, and calls were made for a new anti-racism strategy from the Stormont Executive.

Among those attending were newlyweds Cara Bell and Matthew Richardson, who had married at City Hall earlier that day. They said they wanted to show support and demonstrate that the violence did not represent the wider population of Belfast. A simultaneous anti-racism rally took place at Derry's Guildhall, with speakers including Sinn Féin MLA Ciara Ferguson and People Before Profit's Shaun Harkin.