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 and belief. We share the conviction 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.
Signed
8 August 2024
The Rt Revd Vivienne Faull, Bishop of Bristol
Cllr Abdul Malik, Chair of Easton Jamia Mosque & Bristol City Councillor
Adeela Shafi, Bristol Muslim Strategic Leadership Group
Alex Raikes, SARI (Stand Against Racism & Inequality)
Amal Ali and Sedef Ahmad, Muslim representatives, Bristol Inter-Faith Group
Caitlin Plunkett, Borderlands
Council of Bristol Hebrew Congregation
Chrissie Hackett, Bristol Humanists
Daisy Pitcher, Housing Matters
David Mitchell, Woodlands Church Family
Dot Jenner, Westbury Welcome Community Sponsorship Group
Gen Kelsang Lamchen, Resident Teacher, Amitabha Kadampa Buddhist Centre
George Mazidian, Bahai representative, Bristol Inter-Faith Group
Ismaeel Akram, Bristol Muslim Cultural Society
Javinder Singh, Sikh representative, Bristol Inter-Faith Group
Jo Benefield, Bristol Defend the Asylum Seekers Campaign
Katherine Cox, All at Trauma Foundation South West
Marina Bielenky, Together with Refugees, Stroud District
Mohamed El Sharif, Muslims4Bristol
Mohammed Masuk Miah, Bristol Central Mosque
Pandit Kamlesh Vyas, Priest of the Bristol Hindu community
Pelwatte Dhammananda, Bristol Buddhist Vihara
Layla Ismail, Refugee Women of Bristol
The Revd Mandy Briggs, John Wesley’s New Room
The Very Revd Dr Mandy Ford, Dean of Bristol
Mark Coates, Creative Youth Network
Rabbi Monique Mayer, Bristol and West Progressive Jewish Congregation
Qerim Nuredini, Bristol Hospitality Network
Rachael Bee, Director, Refugee Welcome Homes
Rani Fernandez, Bristol Community Services, Rethink Mental Illness
Fr Richard McKay, St Nicholas of Tolentino Church
Richard Drake, Clerk, Bristol Area Quaker Meeting
Ronald Mendel, Salaam Shalom
The Revd Dr Simon Edwards, Deputy Chair of the Bristol Methodist District
Professor Shawn Hailemariam Sobers, Bristol & Bath Rastafari Community
Shiv Sama, Avon Indian Community Association and South Glos Multifaith Forum
The Revd Sally Spencer, Bristol and South Gloucestershire Methodist Circuit
Susana Askew, Bristol City of Sanctuary
Tahir Mahood and Zaheer Shabir, Council of Bristol Mosques
Terri Fletcher, Home Start Bristol and South Gloucestershire
Cllr Tom Aditya, Chairman Bristol Multi Faith Forum
Credit: Jon Craig