A new Ely group is hoping to spread “love and tolerance”, following shocking revelations that a neo-Nazi group recently held a two-day gathering in Haddenham.
Ely Community Against Hate will be holding a stall at Ely Market this Saturday to reassure people that Ely is a tolerant place that welcomes people of different nationalities.
Joel Higgs, one of the organisers, told Spotted in Ely that he and his friends were horrified by a BBC investigation that last week revealed that about 350 supporters of a white supremacist group had gathered in Haddenham last month. Police had been told the event was a fundraiser for legitimate charity Help for Heroes.
A video shows the far right group performing Nazi salutes while chanting “Sieg Heil”.
Joel said he and his friends were “all horrified” by the report, and decided to form Ely Community Against Hate as a response to the “hate fueled and negative” images depicted within it.
“We wanted to show that this kind of event is not representative of how people feel in this area.
“That kind of event works to increase intolerance, which our society really doesn’t need right now. We hope by arranging our Community Against Hate event, we can help promote tolerance.”
Also appalled by a recent spike in reported hate crime across the UK, Joel and his friends decided to act sooner, rather than later.
The group will be handing out leaflets and chatting to people at Ely Market from 10am to 4pm on Saturday.
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