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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 | |
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 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'." | |
Police said they expected 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," 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 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. | |
"Officers committed acts of incredible bravery and have been working with astonishing commitment to ensure the critical sense of deterrence has been re-established." | |
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. |