By james art The call came as hundreds of protesters took to the streets of the Northern Ireland capital for a Belfast for All: Anti-Racism rally on Saturday.
Representatives from groups including trade unions, Amnesty International, community organizations and political parties, Sinn Fein, Alliance, SDLP, Green Party and People Before Profit were among those taking part.
Racist attacks hit the headlines in August following anti-immigration protests.
In September, the Police Service of Northern Ireland said operational figures showed the number of reported racial hate crimes in the past year had risen by a third compared to the previous 12 months, an increase of more than 400 incidents.
Raied Al-Wazzan, a member of the Muslim community in Northern Ireland, said they have felt under attack since August.
He thanked those who had supported the victims of the attacks and said that not all cards and messages of support received could be answered personally.
Mr Al-Wazzan said he was proud to have made Belfast his home and thanked the police who worked to keep everyone safe.
“We need new hate crime legislation. Northern Ireland is the only part of the UK and Ireland that does not have hate crime legislation, we need this legislation through Stormont as soon as possible without delay,” he urged.
“To MLAs, we need you to pass this legislation as soon as possible.”
He added: “I’m glad to see there is a plan to increase the number of police officers, it will definitely help tackle hate crime, the more police we have on the ground the better, we need the Muslim community to feel safe, we need the Muslim community to come out and not be afraid anymore.”
Patrick Corrigan, Amnesty International’s director for Northern Ireland, said his organization was still hearing week after week of racist attacks on homes and abuse of people on the streets.
“I think it’s important that we continue to take a stand to show our solidarity with the victims of racial hate crimes and those who, because of their skin color, nationality, religion or immigration status, live in fear in this city today,” he said he told the PA news agency.
“It’s a position to say we’ve got your back.
“This is a city that is meant to be for everyone and we will push and ensure that it is a city for everyone.
“This is a very diverse face of Belfast taking to the streets to say this is a diverse city, this is a city for everyone.
“Primarily this is a message to the victims of racial hate crime and those who are currently living in fear because of their skin colour, their nationality, their religion, to say that we as the citizens of Belfast have your back and will continue to we stand with you and continue to push for better leadership from our politicians, more effective police protection and to ensure that this is not a city that is safe for racists, but a city that is safe for everyone else.”
Stormont Justice Minister Naomi Long outlined in September that she planned to introduce racial hate crime legislation this term of the Assembly.
This is expected to be done through amendments to the planned Sentencing Bill and the Victims Bill.
Ms Long said a stand-alone hate crime bill could not realistically be achieved in the time left in the current term.