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Birmingham disorder: Hundreds attend peace rally Birmingham disorder: Hundreds attend peace rally
(40 minutes later)
Hundreds of people are attending a peace rally which follows the looting and violence in Birmingham.Hundreds of people are attending a peace rally which follows the looting and violence in Birmingham.
Community groups from across the city have arranged the rally in response to the disorder and the loss of three lives in Winson Green.Community groups from across the city have arranged the rally in response to the disorder and the loss of three lives in Winson Green.
Haroon Jahan, 21, and brothers Shazad Ali, 30, and Abdul Musavir, 31, died on Wednesday as they protected businesses from looters. Haroon Jahan, 21, and brothers Shazad Ali, 30, and Abdul Musavir, 31, died on Wednesday as they protected businesses from looters
The rally is taking place at Summerfield Park in Winson Green.The rally is taking place at Summerfield Park in Winson Green.
As the event started police said about 1,500 were there with more on the way.As the event started police said about 1,500 were there with more on the way.
A minute's silence was observed.
Unity and solidarity
Religious leaders, who have organised the event, said the aim was to promote unity and to show solidarity against the rioters.Religious leaders, who have organised the event, said the aim was to promote unity and to show solidarity against the rioters.
Tariq Jahan, father of Haroon Jahan, made an emotional speech along with relatives of Shazad Ali and Abdul Musavir.
Mr Jahan said seeing the community standing together gave him strength in his heart.
He asked the communities not to let their sons die in vain.
"I hope that this community will remember them," he said.
He said he had received so much mail so many emails of support he had not had chance to respond.
"I don't know how to respond," he said. "I am one of the people. I am nobody special.
"I am not important but thank you from bottom of my heart from my wife and all our families."
'Wounds too deep''Wounds too deep'
The Reverend Mark Ryan, of the Birmingham Christian Centre, said there was a slight risk of trouble but that it was worth taking the risk. The Reverend Mark Ryan, of the Birmingham Christian Centre, said beforehand there was a slight risk of trouble but that it was worth taking the risk.
He said: "I think it is a great thing that all the communities want to come to say 'one Birmingham, one city, one voice for peace'. He said: "I think it is a great thing that all the communities want to come to say 'one Birmingham, one city, one voice for peace'."
"That is the major message. Police said they expected the rally to pass without incident.
"I would urge people of non-faith to come out and show that the ordinary Brummie has got a good voice and a good community."
He said members of the Christian centre, which numbers more than 1,000, were expected to attend and that invites had been spread to all churches in the city.
Police have said they expect the rally to pass without incident.
Derrick Campbell, chief executive of Race Equality Sandwell, said he thought it was too soon for the rally as wounds were still raw.Derrick Campbell, chief executive of Race Equality Sandwell, said he thought it was too soon for the rally as wounds were still raw.
"I believe and support the concept of people working together to deliver the message that we should find ways to live together and support each other as a community."I believe and support the concept of people working together to deliver the message that we should find ways to live together and support each other as a community.
"I think the wounds are just too raw and too deep at the moment. "I think the wounds are just too raw and too deep at the moment," he said.
"It is just a little bit too soon," he said.
Dave Clayton, 65, of Oldbury, attended the rally with his wife.Dave Clayton, 65, of Oldbury, attended the rally with his wife.
He said he wanted to share his condolences with the families of the men who were killed.He said he wanted to share his condolences with the families of the men who were killed.
"I think (events like these) want to be more widespread around the country," he said."I think (events like these) want to be more widespread around the country," he said.
"There are other cities with problems.""There are other cities with problems."
Margaret Osahan of Edgbaston said people had to set a good example to others.Margaret Osahan of Edgbaston said people had to set a good example to others.
"We have a situation where people don't respect each other," she said."We have a situation where people don't respect each other," she said.
"We have to set a good example. I hope some of the young people who were rioting are here so we can set them an example.""We have to set a good example. I hope some of the young people who were rioting are here so we can set them an example."
'Damaged young people''Damaged young people'
West Midlands Chief Constable Chris Sims is speaking at the event, along with Birmingham mayor Mike Whitby and the families of the dead men. West Midlands Chief Constable Chris Sims also spoke at the event, along with Birmingham City Council leader Mike Whitby.
Mr Whitby said everybody was "as one".Mr Whitby said everybody was "as one".
"We are working together, politicians, faith leaders, community leaders - the desire for normality in this city is tangible," he said."We are working together, politicians, faith leaders, community leaders - the desire for normality in this city is tangible," he said.
Before the event, Mr Sims said: "Officers have been overwhelmed by the support shown by the public and it felt a million miles from the debates apparently raging in Westminster." Before the event, Mr Sims said: "Officers have been overwhelmed by the support shown by the public and it felt a million miles from the debates apparently raging in Westminster.
He said he looked forward to being held to account as to how police handled the situation of the past week and how quickly police adopted new tactics to deal with the "unprecedented challenge". "Officers committed acts of incredible bravery and have been working with astonishing commitment to ensure the critical sense of deterrence has been re-established."
"Officers committed acts of incredible bravery and have been working with astonishing commitment to ensure the critical sense of deterrence has been re-established," he said.
Sentencing of those in court had been "justifiably harsh", he said.Sentencing of those in court had been "justifiably harsh", he said.
But he added people must not abandon compassion for some "damaged young people who have been caught up in these incidents".But he added people must not abandon compassion for some "damaged young people who have been caught up in these incidents".
Earlier on Sunday, two people, a 26-year-old man and a 17-year-old boy appeared in court charged with the murders of the three men in Winson Green.Earlier on Sunday, two people, a 26-year-old man and a 17-year-old boy appeared in court charged with the murders of the three men in Winson Green.
They were remanded in custody and will appear at Birmingham Crown Court on Monday.They were remanded in custody and will appear at Birmingham Crown Court on Monday.