Faith leaders from the main religious groups across Stoke-on-Trent today made a united stand against a proposed protest by the racist English Defence League which is expected to take place in Stoke on Saturday.

Christian, Muslim, Jewish and Sikh leaders lit a candle and signed a pledge of unity outside Stoke Minster (the church of St Peter ad Vincula) opposite Stoke Town Hall.

The Church of England Bishop of Stafford, the Right Revd Gordon Mursell, was amongst the faith leaders taking part in the act of unity. He said: “If Stoke-on-Trent is to have a good future, it is absolutely vital that all its citizens, irrespective of creed and background, work together for the common good. We believe that real diversity actually helps create a vibrant and attractive city. The EDL and BNP think the opposite. That is why we oppose them.”

His words were echoed by the Roman Catholic Auxiliary Bishop for North Staffordshire, the Right Revd David McGough, who said: “We must all oppose any extremism that would play on peoples’ fears and anxieties to divide our city and set one section of our community against another.”

Gurmeet Singh Kallar, a member of Stoke’s Gurdwara, said: “As Sikhs we believe that all people are important to God and we are against the persecution of any group or minority.”

The Revd Peter Barber, Chair of the Chester and Stoke on Trent Methodist Circuit said: “As faith leaders we have a special duty to show that different communities can live together is harmony and mutual respect. We oppose those who would try to divide us by hate and fear.”

Lloyd Cooke, chief executive of the Saltbox Christian Centre, a North Staffordshire faith-based networking organisation, said: “The people of Stoke-on-Trent are both friendly and tolerant. We are therefore opposed to any event or group which seeks to cause division or mischief and results in stirring up bad feeling."

ENDS

Notes:

1. Those who took part in the act of unity included:

• The Right Revd Gordon Mursell, Church of England Bishop of Stafford
  
  
• Imam Abdul Ghafoor, of the Shelton Mosque
  
  
• Imam Nazir Habib, Chair of Staffordshire Muslim Scholars Association
  
  
• Mr Sidney Morris MBE, President of the Hebrew Congregation
  
  
• Gurmeet Singh of the Sikh Gurdwara
  
  
• The Revd Preb David Lingwood, Rector of Stoke (Anglican)
  
  
• Mr Lloyd Cooke, Chief Executive of the Saltbox Christian Centre

2. The pledge signed by the faith leaders reads:
   
   “First they came for the communists, and I did not speak out — because I was not a communist;
   Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a trade unionist;
   Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out— because I was not a Jew;
   Then they came for me— and there was no one left to speak out.”
   Pastor Martin Niemöller 1946
   
   “For a city where all are valued – we are speaking out”