"We must show united front"

I posted yesterday about members of Leicester Council of Faiths and of St Philip's Centre out and about in the city centre, during the clean up after the disturbances on Tuesday evening. Here's how that's reported in today's Leicester Mercury, linking it up with other positive responses by the community in general.

"We must show united front" 

Peaceful protestors were among those out on the streets of Leicester yesterday to try to prevent further violence. 

A group of about 30 people gathered at the Clock Tower waving banners and playing music from about 3.30pm. 

They were led by 18-year-old Austin Williams, of St Mark's, Leicester, who helped organise the demonstration following a meeting of residents and community groups in Highfields. 

Mr Williams said: "We've been voicing how we feel about the riots and doing what we can to prevent them. 

"We're all about getting kids to harness their energy and make a difference." 

Faith leaders also joined together to offer comfort and support to people and businesses affected by Tuesday night's violence.

Representatives from the Christian, Hindu, Muslim and Sikh faiths visited some locations which saw trouble, including Granby Street, the cultural quarter and the Highcross [no mention of the Bahá'í community being involved, although Minou Cortazzi, who represents the Bahá'ís on the Board of Directors of Leicester Council of Faiths - and is its immediate past Chair - is at the front of the photo.]

The event was organised by Riaz Ravat, of the St Philip's Centre, an Evington charity which promotes inter-faith relations in Leicester. 

He said: "We've been appalled by the incidents that have taken place. There's quite a bit of anger and, as faith communities, we need to show a united front." 

Suleman Nagdi, of the Federation of Muslim Organisations, said: "We need to send a message that an attack on one section of the community is an attack on us all." 

Resham Singh Sandhu, chairman of the Sikh Welfare and Culture Society [sic], said he had spoken with Sikh youths in East Park Road on Tuesday evening who were guarding not only their temple and shops from potential attack, but also the mosque. 

He said: "I'm saddened this has happened but we're lucky we respect each other in Leicester, because we have to look after each other." 

The Right Reverend Christopher Boyle, assistant Bishop of Leicester, said: "We've endeavoured to show solidarity for the city of Leicester and its citizens" 

Volunteers also took to the streets during a clean-up operation in the aftermath of the trouble. 

About 15 volunteers met at the Clock Tower at 9am after word of the event spread on social networking websites. 

Aimee Packwood, 25, of Clarendon Park, a member of Voluntary Action Leicestershire, said: "The fact people have come out to clean up shows more want to make this kind of difference, rather than what happened last night. There was a peaceful protest but it was hijacked by people who wanted to cause trouble." 

Representatives from the city wardens were also on hand to help out.
Fosse warden Jethro Swift said: "What happened last night was atrocious but cleaning up is the right thing to do. It shows the great community spirit we have in Leicester." 

City MPs condemned the violence and praised police. Leicester South MP Jon Ashworth was due to speak in Parliament today to put pressure on the Prime Minister to confirm Leicester had all the resources to support police dealing with incidents. 

He said: "What we have seen by a small minority is shocking and, though we have not witnessed the criminality of the scale of other cities, there must be no excuse for the burglary and vandalism our city experienced last night. 

"I want to commend the bravery of the police in Leicester who have been consistently excellent on the frontline." 

Leicester East MP Keith Vaz said: "The damage this senseless criminality has caused will not be tolerated, however, we need to get to the bottom of the reasons why this tiny minority have behaved in this disgraceful way."