Cork local election candidates from immigrant backgrounds speak of receiving online abuse

A Labour Party candidate for Cork City Council has spoken about a voter who told her she couldn’t stand for election because she “wasn’t Irish by blood”, while another candidate from an immigrant background spoke about receiving “horrible, horrible” abuse online.

Lekha Menon Margassery is, she told The Echo, a “Corkonian since 2008” and stood as an Independent in the 2019 local elections.

Ms Margassery, who is from India, became a Labour Party candidate in the Cork City South Central ward in April.

Ms Margassery had been putting up her posters when she was approached by “one guy” who told her she could not stand for elections because she wasn’t “Irish by blood”.

“He specifically mentioned that you can work in other areas, education or anything, but ‘what are you doing in politics, why are you entering the Government?, we want Ireland to be Catholic’, those kind of things,” said Ms Margassery, who works in University College Cork’s School of Microbiology.

“He also threatened that he would pull down my posters but they’re fine as of now.”

Online messages

When the candidate posted about this incident on her X profile, she received more anti-immigrant messages, she said.

“I got some hate comments when I posted about this, like ‘go back to your country’ and ‘do you think your country would be welcoming if we stood for political office in your countries’,” said Ms Margassery, remarking that there had been a lot of hateful comment on her social media profile which she would not speak about.

Apart from that incident, the response Ms Margassery has been receiving on the doorstep has been very positive, and she added that she was undaunted and not discouraged by her negative experiences.

“The response has been very good — they take my leaflet and say they will read about me and they will make a decision based on that. Others say that it’s nice that you come and knock on my door —people are welcoming so far.”

Ms Margassery’s online experience is also shared by Green Party candidate in Cork City South East, Honoré Kamegni, who also spoke with The Echo.

Experience

Mr Kamegni, who has been canvassing since April last year in his effort to become a city councillor, said that there was a very positive response as he went from door to door in his ward.

“It’s been a good experience on the doorsteps, I’m not getting any kind of hostile or aggressive reaction. All the abuse I’m getting is online,” said Mr Kamegni.

“I’m getting horrible, horrible stuff online,” he said, describing those who are abusing him as ‘hiding behind a keyboard so they can say anything they want to say’.

“I’m focused on my campaign, I just ignore what is going on online, I’m focused to talk to the real people on the doorstep.”

Olga Shevchenko, who arrived in Ireland from Ukraine in 2001, is running for Fianna Fáil in Cork City South West. She told The Echo that she has received a very positive response on her canvass though she said that some voters told her they would be voting for a different party.

The Ballincollig resident said she had canvassed in that town and in Bishopstown.

“I experienced a really positive reception on the doors,” she said.

“There were no questions whatsoever about that I am a migrant and why am I running, absolutely nothing.”

A number of other candidates with immigrant backgrounds were also approached by The Echo but were unavailable for comment.