“No matter a person’s background, their ages, their religion, their gender, their sexuality or anything else, they are equal members of our society. Multiculturalism is a strength and something which is a benefit to us culturally, economically and politically.
“Given recent media reports, whether they are unfounded or not, now is the time for people in Northern Ireland to unite and show our community is stronger not in spite of its differences but because of them.
“Everyone would be able to contribute to the day and it would give us a platform as a society to show we will not allow intolerance or discrimination to take hold here.”