Muslim, Jewish and Christian faith leaders, local politicians, community leaders and members of the public are due to join a walk of unity and shared meal in Southport at 12pm on Monday 2nd September the 2024.
The Walk of Unity is an opportunity for the community to come together and show it stands against hatred and division.
WHAT: Walk of Unity through town and a shared meal at the local synagogue.
WHEN: 11:45 for 12:00 Monday 2 September
WHERE: The walk of unity is due to start at the local mosque: 102a Sussex Road, Southport Merseyside, PR9 0SL. It will stop at the synagogue and the church, concluding with a shared meal at the synagogue.
The Walk of Unity will be led by a group of community leaders, including Muslim, Jewish and Christian faith leaders, local politicians, business owners, charities and members of the Southport community.
The event will be a show of solidarity one month on from the start of violent disorder which saw Muslim communities and other minority groups targeted by far-right rioters.
The event follows the commemoration last week of the one-month anniversary of the tragic killings of three children in Southport: Bebe King, six; Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven; and Alice Dasilva Aguiar, nine.
Following initial violent disorder in Southport – fuelled by misinformation over the killings – the local community mobilised to clear up and repair a mosque which was attacked by rioters. A multi-faith event later in the week saw faith leaders across different backgrounds deliver a joint statement of solidarity outside the mosque, as well as visiting the scene of the killings.
The event on Monday serves as a reminder that amid tragedy, the community in Southport is committed to creating a lasting legacy of connection across divides, showing that extremists who sought to divide the town last month are not welcome.
Organisers hope that the gathering inspires communities across the country to come together once again as the country continues to rebuild community connection following the riots.
The event is being backed by Strengthening Faith Institutions, Together, The Board of Deputies of British Jews, the Faiths Forum for London and the Ostro Fayre Share Foundation.
Do you have a story for Stand Up For Southport? Please message Andrew Brown via Facebook here or email me at: [email protected]
