HUNDREDS of people from refugee support groups and supporters gathered in Worcester on Saturday (August 10) for the Rally4Unity to stand up against racism, following the week of riots across the country.
Powerful speeches were given from local refugee support groups, trade unions, the local Muslim community, Worcester Palestine Solidarity Campaign and political parties.
The aim of the event, organised by the Worcester Trades Union Council, was to send out a clear message to racists and fascists who sought to divide communities were not welcome.
Ros Gowers is the chair of the Worcestershire Welcomes Refugees, covering all the refugee and asylum seeker support groups across the county.
She said: “Locally, even though there has not been any actual threats made here, we have seen a really strong impact on the people we support of the violence and aggression they have seen on the TV and Internet.
“People have been very reluctant to leave their homes, have not turned up for organised summer holiday events and told us how very vulnerable and scared they feel.
“They are worried for their children going back to school and find it very hard to understand why asylum seekers and refugees as a group have been targeted when, from their perspective, they believed they would be safe from such things here in the UK, which is believed across the world to be a tolerant country.”
She added those who had settled in the UK were as shocked as everyone about the dreadful events.
“Happily we have been able to reassure them that most people in the UK would not resort to such aggression, even if they did not agree with current refugee policy.
“I am very proud of how all our volunteers have stepped up to provide reassurance and support people to manage their fears and to remain calm.”
