A West Belfast SDLP candidate has claimed he was told he 'wasn't welcome' while putting up election posters.
Paul Doherty said the incident happened on Monday night on the Shankill Road.
In a video posted on Twitter, the foodbank director said: "It's very disappointing this evening that while we were putting up posters on the Shankill Road, we were approached by a group of men who said we weren’t welcome in this area and threatened that our posters would be taken down.
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"What was even more frustrating was the fact that we tried to engage and have a conversation about what really matters and what is really impacting people on both the Shankill and areas like the Falls and right across communities - and that is health, it's housing and it is the cost of living.
"But they were too concerned about certain rhetoric around the protocol. This narrative isn’t representative of the views of many I know and have supported here in this community.
"And it wont deter us to continue to work for people in these areas.
"I'm running in West Belfast to represent everyone that lives here, regardless of their background, regardless of where they come from.
"It's time we toned down this toxic political rhetoric and focused on the issues that really matter to people. That has always been my focus and it will be going forward."
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SDLP Leader Colum Eastwood MP has since condemned attempts to intimidate SDLP candidates after a series of incidents.
A spokesperson said: "East Belfast Candidate Charlotte Carson had election posters set on fire on Cyprus Avenue last night in scenes which were attended by the Fire Service.
"Strangford Candidate Conor Houston had more than 20 posters stolen in the Newtownards area at the end of last week."
Colum Eastwood MP added: “SDLP candidates are out every day serving their communities and working hard to build a better future for all our people. These attacks on our party, our candidates and our campaign are totally futile - we have come under attack from violent thugs before. We have beaten them every time. We will beat them again.
“Some people want to make this election campaign a toxic race to the bottom on protocol and identity politics. They want to stop us reaching out to the people across all our communities who are begging for help to heat their homes and feed their kids - real problems that transcend political or community background. Wherever people need help, the SDLP will be there for them. We won’t back down.
“These attacks are even more outrageous because they have been committed against a new generation of leaders in our party. Paul Doherty - a food bank director feeding hundreds of families every week and delivering humanitarian aid to Ukrainian civilians. Charlotte Carson - a teacher in an integrated school with a passion for empowering young women and girls. Conor Houston - a man who has dedicated his life to reconciliation and peace building between our communities.
“Our candidates are a threat to no one but those who want to keep us all in the past. Paul, Charlotte and Conor are shattering old certainties, they are stepping up and stepping in to put people first. And they will have my support every step of the way.”
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