Anna Lo blazes trail as Northern Ireland's first minority ethnic politician

Anna Lo, who passed away at the age of 74, was a significant figure in Northern Ireland's political landscape, particularly as the first minority ethnic elected representative. She served the Alliance party in the Northern Ireland Assembly from 2007 to 2016, and during her tenure, she worked tirelessly to address issues affecting ethnic minorities, human trafficking, and environmental funding. Lo had an unexpected entry into politics, having spent many years in community work and as the director of the Chinese Welfare Association before being approached by the Alliance party in 2006. Her election journey was marked by challenges, including initial criticisms regarding her status as a non-native but she ultimately found success with her re-election in 2011. Lo's impactful work included lobbying for significant legislative changes, such as the Race Relations (Northern Ireland) Order 1997, which aimed to prohibit discrimination in various sectors. Unfortunately, her political career was abruptly ended in 2016 after a distressing encounter with a group of abusive loyalists, which led her to decide against running for re-election that year, highlighting the challenges and risks faced by minority representatives in politics. Anna Lo's legacy remains influential, paving the way for future generations of minority ethnic political leaders in Northern Ireland.