“I’m amazed by the people who have contacted me to say they will be there tomorrow to oppose these bigots and rascists who say they have support in Newcastle. ….people who don’t normally protest. ….they are disgusted to think that these people can try to represent OUR Town! – quote from Mick McGuinness, local resident.
“WHE’S TOON? WOR TOON!” is his battle cry.
“Newcastle stood united against hate as thousands of anti-Pegida protestors marched through the streets of the city this morning (28 February, 2015),” thus reads to introductory paragraphs of an article telling about the demonstration in ‘the toon’, on the local Chronicle-Live website the The Chronicle newspaper.
The German “anti-Islamisation” group’s first visit to Britain was outnumbered by more than five to one as families, anti-fascists, trade unions, religious and community groups all turned out in opposition.
Reporters Michael Brown, Adam Luke told the story, saying ‘though five people were arrested the potential powderkeg passed off relatively peacefully’.
Pegida insist that this was only its “first of many” appearances across the UK.
“I wish this hadn’t been necessary,” Newcastle Central MP Chi Onwurah stated to the reporters – as he spoke at the counter protest. “What we would have liked is for Pegida to have not picked our great city to march in in the first place. But to see people of all cultures and backgrounds, from across the political spectrum and including many football fans, turn out really showed that Newcastle is united against these outsiders.”
Official figures from Northumbria Police suggested 2,000 people had turned out for the Newcastle Unites counter protest, which marched from the gates of the city’s Chinatown, down Gallowgate before rallying before a stage on Newgate Street.
The demonstration was also attended by Respect MP George Galloway, a number of Newcastle councillors, Gateshead MP Ian Mearns, and German MEP Arne Lietz, who travelled from Gelsenkirchen.
“For me it was very important to show solidarity and that we are together as Europeans against hate,” Arne Lietz was reported saying. “This Pegida protest will have attracted other groups or individuals who will have called themselves Pegida, but many of whom are right wing and nationalist, and who’s hate speak we don’t want to see in the European Union.
Arne Lietz came from an East Germany background and growing up he and others were singled out for being Christians under the Communist regime. He now wants to ensure that people live in a fair Europe with the liberties that were denied to his own parents.
The redoubtable George Galloway was quoted saying: “All right-thinking people in Britain condemn the idea of a German Nazi group coming to the North East of England trying to stir up trouble. The vast majority of British people respect that and the people who are here on the counter-demonstration are representing millions. We have problems in Britain without racism and Islamophobia being further stoked.”
Gateshead MP Ian Mearns joined the counter-rally and said the number of people at the Newcastle Unites march was ‘fantastic’ but expressed being puzzled because among the Pegida demonstrators there likely were British Nationalists demonstrating alongside proud Europeans – it doesn’t make sense.” Among the German-founded group, which insists it is neither fascist or racist, banners supporting the English Defence League and National Front could be seen.
“It really shows the solidarity among the people of Newcastle and the North East, and from the perspective that the Pegida protest only had numbers in the low hundreds, and the counter protest had thousands it’s very encouraging,” stated Mearns.
One man on being interviewed said: “This has nothing to do with race. It is about Islamification of our country and nobody is doing anything about it. We want people to integrate when they come here and that is not happening. When we bring up these issues we are called bigots and racist but we just want to protect our heritage.”
Full story at:
http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/newcastle-unites-thousands-turn-out-8740851
Local Geordie resident Dipu Ahad tells it from his point of view on Facebook with:
“I am overwhelmed having witnessed something extraordinarily unique, which took place in Newcastle earlier today and I was proud to be a part of this.
A police officer, said to me “Dipu, this is by far the best and most diverse counter demo I’ve seen in the north east, and I’ve done many.” He went on to say, “I actually feel emotional.” This was the power of our celebration of communities today. This is just one example of many.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of Newcastle Unites working group who’ve worked tirelessly since we heard that Pegida are coming to town. I’d like to thank all our stewards who did a fantastic job today, would also like to thank our diverse group of speakers who spoke so eloquently about the issue of Islamophobia. I would like to thank all those who traveled from up and down the country to stand shoulder to shoulder with us all. I’d like to express my sincere gratitude to you all 3000-ish participants for showing the world what great people we are. We successfully conveyed that we are not going to bow to hatred and we’ll counter hatred as we did today. I’m not going to thank Pegida again for uniting us, as I’ve already done so earlier today!
I would also like to apologise if I or any Newcastle Unites members did anything wrong, as you will understand, there was so much pressure on us all to make the demo a success.
Finally, we were part of something great today, but hate cannot be defeated by one counter demo. It’s a responsibility of each and everyone of us to be proactive in countering hate, whatever form this may take and I hope today will inspire many and use it as a stepping stone to stand up against hatred.
The people unite……. Newcastle Unites!”
