Birmingham community and faith leaders will come together tomorrow for a peace rally against far-right group Pegida, who are marching in the city
Community representatives, faith leaders, trade unions and activists are gathering in Birmingham’s Victoria Square for a rally on Saturday 6th February, to challenge the presence of far-right group Pegida in the city.
Muslim, Christian and cross-faith representatives including church ministers and mosque members will be addressing attendees at a peace rally celebrating Birmingham’s diversity and multicultural heritage, on Saturday at noon.
The Birmingham Unites event, organised by Stand Up To Racism and Unite Against Fascism, will bring together people from all backgrounds to stand united against fascism and hate, in order to counter a march and rally planned by Tommy Robinson’s Pegida, which is being held near Birmingham International Airport.
The peace rally in the city centre will feature a mix of speeches, live music, colour and a festive spirit.
Cllr Waseem Zaffar (Lab) will be speaking at the anti-Pegida rally on Saturday (Photograph: SUTR)
Hosted by Sharon Campion, speakers at the event include activist Salma Yaqoob, Labour councillor Waseem Zaffar, Lichfield Diocese Team Vicar Minister Ray Gaston, Rev. Oliver Coss of All Saints Church in Small Heath, Clare Thomas from The Green Party, Pete Jackson from The People’s Assembly, Roger King from the National Union of Teachers, Chairman of Remembering Srebenica Dr Waqar Azmi OBE, Rhiannon Lockley from trade union UCU, Matt Raine from Unison, Robert Punton from Unite Against Fascism and Danny Rees from Stand Up To Racism.
Community activist Salma Yaqoob and Dr Waqar Azmi OBE, Chairman of Remembering Srebenica, will both be speaking at the anti-racism peace rally
Musicians and spoken word artists joining the festivities will include social enterprise arts group Beatfreeks, the Clarion Singers, Shaun Gambowl Walsh and the Plagiarists, Johnny Kowalski and the Sexy Weirdos, Thomson Oldeman, DJs Jonnie Greaves and Stephen Jock Lee, Giovanni Spoz Esposito, Robin Surgeoner, Alisha Kadir, Wuzzamill, and Jacob Oneill.
The Birmingham Unites rally has been organised to celebrate Birmingham’s diversity and unity
Protesters join festivities and music performances at a previous anti-racism rally in Birmingham
Activist and anti-racism campaigner Salma Yaqoob stated:
“Birmingham is a diverse and multicultural city and we are proud of this. We stand against Pegida and their racist, Islamophobic and fascist views.
“Only twenty years ago, we had a genocide of Muslims in Europe, which began with a campaign of dehumanising the Islamic community through propaganda and hate. Today, Pegida and other far-right groups are attempting to bring division to our city but we shall stand united. In contrast to the hate propaganda of Pegida, we shall be celebrating the richness and strength in our unity through music, food, and speeches.
“Only a week after Holocaust Memorial Day, we must send a clear message that there is no place for fascism on our streets, and solidarity and good will between people of all backgrounds, races, orientations, genders, abilities and faiths is what makes Birmingham and Britain a better place.”
The ‘Birmingham Unites’ peace rally has been organised by Stand Up To Racism Birmingham and Unite Against Fascism, commonly known as UAF (Photograph: SUTR)
City councillor Waseem Zaffar said:
“Pegida’s visit to our region has helped unite our communities in solidarity; united in celebrating the diversity of our city where people of all faiths and no faith live in harmony together. Birmingham is home to people from 187 countries who have chosen to settle here and we stand together against the hate and division of Tommy Robinson and Pegida.”
‘Birmingham Unites’ begins at noon on Saturday 6th February in Victoria Square, and is backed by Roger Godsiff MP, Jeremy Corbyn MP, Rabbi Margaret Jacobi of the Birmingham Progressive Synagogue and the Bishop of Birmingham David Urquhart.
The ‘Birmingham Unites’ rally against Pegida is being supported by Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, seen here in the city last year (Photograph: Adam Yosef)
The event is supported by the NUT, Love Music Hate Racism, LGBT+ Against Islamophobia, Momentum Birmingham, Birmingham Central Mosque and Unison.
Pegida UK leader Tommy Robinson has accused Birmingham councillors of being “hypocrites”, stating: “They talk of the history of Birmingham [as one of cohesion and tolerance]. The truth is it was, but not any more.
“Now it’s a hotbed for radical Islam. These council leaders never came out to condemn the marches held by Muslim extremists, like the anti-free speech protests condemning the Charlie Hebdo cartoons. They’re hypocrites.”
West Midlands Police revealed it only expects a few hundred to turn up to the Pegida’s Birmingham march this weekend and said it was also anticipating counter-protests on the day.
Anti-fascist group Hope Not Hate are also organising a meet-up with tea, for faith and community leaders, at Birmingham Central Mosque in Highgate this afternoon at 1.15pm.
.
You can find out more about the Birmingham Unites peace rally here.
.
