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Birmingham disorder: Thousands attend peace rally | Birmingham disorder: Thousands attend peace rally |
(40 minutes later) | |
Thousands of people have attended a peace rally which followed the looting and violence in Birmingham. | Thousands of people have attended a peace rally which followed the looting and violence in Birmingham. |
Community groups arranged the rally in response to the disorder and the loss of three lives in Winson Green. | Community groups 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 |
Police estimated up to 5,000 people were at the rally in Summerfield Park, Winson Green. | Police estimated up to 5,000 people were at the rally in Summerfield Park, Winson Green. |
A minute's silence was observed during the event. | A minute's silence was observed during the event. |
'Unity and solidarity' | 'Unity and solidarity' |
Religious leaders said the aim was to promote unity and to show solidarity against the rioters. | Religious leaders 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. | 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. | 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. | He asked the communities not to let their sons die in vain. |
"I hope that this community will remember them," he said. | "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. | 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 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." | "I am not important but thank you from bottom of my heart from my wife and all our families." |
'Set good example' | |
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. | 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'." |
Police said they expected the rally to pass without incident. | Police said they expected the rally to pass without incident. |
Dave Clayton, 65, of Oldbury, West Midlands, 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." |
Akhar Ali from Sparkhill, Birmingham, said: "I came to show the respects to the family and to share their grief. | |
"I hope an event like this will create unity amongst all communities and all religions." | |
Margaret Osahan of Edgbaston, Birmingham, said: "We have a situation where people don't respect each other. | Margaret Osahan of Edgbaston, Birmingham, said: "We have a situation where people don't respect each other. |
"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. | West Midlands Chief Constable Chris Sims also spoke at the event, along with Birmingham City Council leader Mike Whitby. |
"We are working together, politicians, faith leaders, community leaders - the desire for normality in this city is tangible," said Mr Whitby. | |
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." | |
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. |