West Berkshire marches for peace

Solidarity march through Newbury town centre

PEOPLE from across West Berkshire joined a silent peace march through Newbury town centre on Saturday morning.

The solidarity march was aimed at uniting all communities in the name of humanity against oppression and terror.

But the event, organised by All2gether, the Minority Ethnic Forum of West Berkshire, was inevitably held in the shadow of the recent Paris atrocities.

The forum group states on its social media Facebook page: “What happened in Paris is deplorable, and at this time we should also reflect on the millions of lives affected in political and economic wars in recent years.”

The marchers silently proceeded from the Clock Tower in Northbrook Street through the town centre to the West Berkshire Council chambers in Market Street for an informal chat over refreshments.

Christian clergy, Muslim community leaders, Buddhists, Hindus – people of all faiths and none – marched side by side in the winter sunshine.

One of the event organisers, Waheeda Soomro, said afterwards that it was important to “find the threads that bind us together” rather than surrender to those who would divide communities.

All2gether director Ruwan Uduwerage-Perera said: “It’s an opportunity to bring communities together and to show solidarity, especially at a time when some communities we work with are living with the fear factor which is, sadly, growing.”
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