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Bristol faith leaders unite after week of unrest
Faith leaders from across Bristol have come together to condemn the actions of far-right groups over the past week.
The faith leaders met at Bristol Cathedral on Thursday, the day after a huge counter-protest saw off a planned far-right rally in Old Market.
In a statement they said they “stand united in our condemnation of the actions of extremist groups” and “affirm our collective commitment to peace, compassion and justice”.
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This is the full statement:
“As representatives of diverse faith and belief communities, as well as secular organisations from across Bristol, we are shocked and saddened by the violence and harassment that has taken place in Bristol and the rest of the UK over the last few days.
“We stand united in our condemnation of the actions of extremist groups.
“There is no place in our city for racism, anti-Muslim hate or violence against asylum seekers and refugees.
“We, the undersigned affirm our collective commitment to peace, compassion and justice.
“These extremist actions were sparked by mass disinformation being spread about a tragic incident in Southport.
“We hold the three children – Alice, Bebe and Elsie – who were killed in Southport, those who grieve them deeply, and all who have been affected by these events, in our heartfelt prayers and thoughts.
“As a community, we were horrified by the scenes that unfolded last Saturday at Castle Park, outside the Mercure Hotel in Redcliffe and across other parts of Bristol.
“We stand in solidarity with the people who locked arms at the entrance to the hotel to protect the asylum seekers and refugees from violence.
“We stand together with thousands of people who gathered yesterday in Old Market to send a clear message that extremism is not welcome in our city.
“These hate-filled acts of racism and intimidation towards Muslim and refugee and asylum seeker communities are a direct affront to the core values of love, compassion, justice, and the inherent dignity of every human being, that we uphold as a City of Sanctuary.
“In our rejection of hate and in our shared humanity and faith, we are united in solidarity with each other and in solidarity with the most vulnerable in our society.
“We stand united with people of every ethnicity, race and creed.
“We share the belief that there is one race, the human race.
“We stand united with asylum seekers and refugees, as those who are among the most vulnerable in our land.
“Each of our communities and faiths emphasises this duty of care and service through which we discover the beautiful gift that strangers and newcomers are to us.
“In the face of it all, we stand firm together as the city of Bristol in all its diversity to reaffirm our commitment to a community where everyone can live free from fear and discrimination, as we look ahead with hope towards working together to heal the wounds of the past.
“We will overcome the forces that seek to divide us and we will continue to build a city marked by love, compassion and hope.”
The signatories are:
- Vivienne Faull, bishop of Bristol
- Adeela Shafi, Bristol Muslim Strategic Leadership Group
- Amal Ali and Sedef Ahmad, Muslim representatives, Bristol Inter-Faith Group
- Carol Simmons, Bristol Hebrew Congregation
- Gen Kelsang Lamchen, resident teacher, Amitabha Kadampa Buddhist Centre
- George Mazidian, Bahai representative, Bristol Inter-Faith Group
- Javinder Singh, Sikh representative, Bristol Inter-Faith Group
- Mohamed El Sharif, Muslims4Bristol
- Pandit Kamlesh Vyas, priest of the Bristol Hindu community
- Pelwatte Dhammananda, Bristol Buddhist Vihara
- Dr Mandy Ford, dean of Bristol
- Rabbi Monique Mayer, Bristol & West Progressive Jewish Synagogue
- Fr Richard McKay, St Nicholas of Tolentino Church
- Richard Drake, Clerk, Bristol Area Quaker Meeting House
- Dr Simon Edwards, deputy chair of the Bristol Methodist District
- Professor Shawn Hailemariam Sobers, Bristol Rastafarian Community
- Shiv Sama, Avon Indian Community Association and South Glos Multifaith Forum
- Susana Askew, Bristol City of Sanctuary
- Tahir Mahood and Zaheer Shabir, Council of Bristol Mosques
Main photo: Jon Craig
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