A NUMBER OF organisations gathered at the Obelisk in Harlow Town Centre on Saturday to make a stand against racism.

The protest came after an arson attack on the Harlow Islamic Centre which is under police investigation.

Prospective parliamentary candidate, Suzy Stride (Lab) said: “It was fantastic to see people coming together on Saturday to make a stand for unity and diversity in Harlow. To celebrate the fact that such diversity enriches our community in the same week that we celebrated Martin Luther King’s famous speech, it demonstrates there is still much progress to be made.

“The attack on the Harlow Islamic Centre was a despicable and disgraceful act. I am proud to stand by the Muslim community in Harlow, to support those who had their place of worship attacked. I visited the Harlow Islamic Centre last week to offer them my support personally. An attack on someone’s place of worship is an attack on their freedom; we must stand together as a community to stop all attacks like this.”