A GROUP of Worcester clergy have been handing out safety pins in the city centre as part of a national anti-racism campaign to make residents feel safe and welcome.
Members of the Worcestershire Interfaith Forum, which represents people from all faiths in the county, including Baha’i, Buddhist, Muslim, Christian, Hindu, Quaker, Sikh and Unitarian, gathered outside St Andrew’s Methodist Church on Pump Street last Wednesday (July 6) to show their support for the ‘Safety-Pin Campaign’.
The drive, started on Twitter after the EU Referendum result, symbolises the safety of immigrants and refugees and is worn to show solidarity with the vulnerable.
Hundreds of pins were handed to passers-by who also had their photos taken by the campaign banner which said ‘United in Friendship Not Fear’.
The photos will be turned into an anti-racism poster which will be displayed in schools and libraries.
Overwhelmed by the response Rev Ian Spencer, of Holland House Retreat Centre, said: “People of all ages, races and religions have come up to us and had a chat.
“It has been amazing.
“We came up with the idea very quickly after hearing about the Twitter campaign and we thought we would do our part to help.
“Worcester should be a place where people feel safe, whether they have been here five minutes of 50 years, whether they are refugees, immigrants, and whatever faith and religion.
“We want people to live harmoniously and we want the outcome of this to be that people feel supported and welcomed.
“We came here, set up and had no idea how people would respond but I personally feel really encouraged by the turnout.”
