Hundreds of people have signed a petition condemning attempts to divide communities and "to create fear and hatred" against people seeking refuge in the UK.
The petition, organised by a group under the banner of Merseyside Anti-Racists Unite, was signed by more than 500 people, including councillors, trade union officials and activists in Merseyside as well as figures like West Derby MP Ian Byrne, co-founder of Merseyside Black Lives Matter Alliance, Chantelle Lunt, former Labour Leader Jeremy Corbyn, former Knowsley Town Mayor Tony Ely and Ellen Loudon, canon chancellor of Liverpool Cathedral.
It comes after fireworks were launched at police and a police van was set on fire during a protest outside the Suites Hotel in Kirkby on Friday, February 10.
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The petition said: "The people of Knowsley and the wider Merseyside region are known for tolerance and peaceful community relations. Indeed, immigration and the acceptance of those seeking refuge from horrific experiences in their own countries is a significant part of the history of the Merseyside region.
"This is something to be proud of and defended against those who seek to disrupt it and create havoc for their own ends. We want to make it very clear that we welcome refugees and asylum seekers here. We will not tolerate any type of racism or discrimination in our society."
The organisers of the petition say they hope it will show the breadth of opposition to racism in the region and rally support for a 'Refugees Welcome Here' demonstration at St George's Hall at 12pm on Saturday, February 18. Organisers have announced former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn as a speaker.
A second petition, organised by Together With Refugees and signed by 180 charities, called on party leaders to "take a clear stand and condemn any further violence", saying: "The responsibility to create a system that is fair and compassionate, and brings cohesion instead of division, lies with our decision makers."
It was signed by at least 28 Merseyside organisations, including Share Knowsley, Asylum Link Merseyside and Liverpool Trades Union Council, as well as Save the Children, Ben and Jerry's and the Refugee Council.
The full list of signatories to Merseyside Anti-Racists Unite's petition:
Chantelle Lunt – Founder Merseyside Black Lives Matter Alliance, Merseyside Alliance for Racial Equality
Ashlee Brown – Merseyside Black Lives Matter Alliance, Merseyside Alliance for Racial Equality.
Claudia Murray – National Secretary Black Labour Movement
Ian Byrne – MP for Liverpool West Derby
Mick Whitley – MP for Birkenhead
Jeremy Corbyn – MP for Islington North
Ellen Loudon – Director of Social Justice for the Diocese of Liverpool and Canon Chancellor of Liverpool Cathedral
Alexei Sayle – Actor
Cllr Tony Ely – Labour Councillor St Michaels Huyton KMBC, Former Knowsley Town Council Mayor
Cllr Anna Rothery – Leader Liverpool Community Independents Party
Cllr Alan Gibbons – Deputy Leader Liverpool Community Independents Party
Cllr Chris Davies – Labour Councillor for Rock Ferry
Cllr Lucille Harvey – Labour Councillor for Princes Park ward
Cllr Lena Simic – Labour Councillor for Anfield Ward
Cllr Ellie Byrne – Labour Councillor for Everton Ward
Cllr Sam East – Labour Councillor for Warbreck ward
Cllr Maureen Delahunty – Labour Councillor for County
Cllr Nathalie Nicholas – Labour Councillor for Picton
Cllr Paul Hogan – Labour Councillor for Tanhouse, Skelmersdale
Cllr Ann O’Byrne – Labour Councillor for Warbreck Ward
Cllr Natasha Carlin – Labour Councillor for Blundellsands, Sefton
Cllr Tom Crone – Green Councillor for St Micheals ward
Cllr Stephanie Pitchers – Green Councillor for St Micheals ward
Cllr Lawrence Brown – Deputy Leader Green Party Group, Liverpool City Council
Cllr Joe Bird – Green Councillor for Bromborough
Cllr Akilah Akinola – Labour Councillor for Clifford Ward, Trafford
Polish Migrants Organise for Change
Wirral Trade Union Council
Liverpool Trade Union Council
Merseyside Socialist Alternative
LGBT+ Socialists
Liverpool Stand Up to Racism
United We Stand Solidarity Network
Fridays for Future Liverpool
Marzena Zukowska – Co-director Polish Migrants Organise for Change
Tayo Aluko – Tayo Aluko & Friends
Kelly Stubbs – Liverpool TransPride
Leah Levane – Chair, Freedom from Torture Supporters group
James Cartwright – Chair Carlisle Refugee Action Group
Paul Jenkins – North West Organiser, Unite Against Fascism
Lee Hunter – Chair Merseyside Fire Brigades Union
Mark Rowe – National Officer, Merseyside Fire Brigades Union
Ian Hibbert – Secretary, Merseyside Fire Brigades Union
Tracey Hylton – PCS Union – NEC, Vice Chair National Black Members Committee, TUC NW Delegate, TUC NW Black Members Committee, Merseyside Against Racism & Fascism, Liverpool Supporting Grenfell, Black Activists Against the Cuts – BARAC member.
Gerry Proctor MBE – Unite the union.
Sonia Bassey – Chair, Mandela8
Sabiha Shahzad – Chair Hamara Assra
Judy Ling Wong CBE – Honorary President, Black Environment Network
Vicky Jackson – Secretary, L8 Matters CLT
Vitalis Mbah – Mental Health Lead, Refugee and Asylum Participatory Action Research
Simon Petty – Regional Lead Care4Calais Liverpool
Paul Amann – Chair and founder, Kop Outs
Paul Hession – Co-Founder, Rainbow Toffees (Everton FC LGBTQ+ supporters group)
Nazek Ramadan – Director, Migrant Voice
Paul McGowan – Chairperson LGBT+ Socialists
Sarah Kake – President, Afro Caribbean Society Liverpool Hope
Will Phillips – Chairperson LJMU Student Socialist Alternative, Secretary LGBT+ Socialists
Alex Thompson – Student, Queer adventures president, Housing support worker
Max Barlow – Secretary University of Liverpool Labour students, Treasurer Liverpool Young Labour
Alice Yardley- Chair, University of Liverpool Labour Students
Tchevy Babindamana– President, Student Action for Refugees
Finlay Dineen – Secretary, University of Liverpool Communist Society
Chole Hawryluk – President, University of Liverpool Feminist Society
Emma Johnston – Communications Officer, Social Secretary, Liverpool John Moore’s University Feminist Society
Maddy Vaz – Founder and Chair, Sanctuary Family Support
Martin Ralph – Secretary, International Socialist League
Frank McEntaggart – Chair Defend our NHS.
Kevin Donovan – Secretary Defend our NHS.
Lesley Mahmood – Organiser, Save Liverpool Women’s hospital campaign.
Sheila Altes – Treasurer, Save Liverpool Women's Hospital and Keep Our NHS Public Merseyside
Kevin Robinson-Hale – Equalities Officer Liverpool and Everton West Candidate, Green party
Zadia Naif – Licensee, Ye Cracke Public House
Eddy Dalzell – Liverpool Socialist Worker Student Society, Liverpool Trans Pride
Sky Harrison – Liverpool Socialist Workers Party
Bee Hughes – Chair, LJMU UCU
Saira Weiner – UCU NW Regional Chair, UCU NEC, branch secretary at LJMU
Mo Hosein Abbasi – Researcher LJMU
Peta Bulmer – President, University of Liverpool UCU
Mark O'Brien – Vice President, University of Liverpool UCU
Nina Doran – UCU National Executive Committee
Ali Reynolds – UCU, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine
Carol Cody – Treasurer UCU, City of Liverpool College
Pam Clarke – UCU, University of Liverpool
Alan Brown – UCU, Liverpool Stand Up to Racism
Anna Fox – UCU
Chris Harvey – Secretary, UCU
Will Hardman – UCU, University of Liverpool
Cherie Judge – UCU, University of Liverpool
Lauren Sandford – Secretary, UCU Liverpool University Branch
Samuel Mercer – Branch Chair, Liverpool Hope UCU
John Howard – PDRA at Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, LSTM UCU Rep, Green Party candidate for Sefton Park ward
Diana Jeater – Liverpool UCU
Andy Morse – UCU, University of Liverpool
Rachel Broady – NUJ/UCU
Eve Merrall- Green Rep UCU
Rich Moth – UCU
Wendy Coxshall – Liverpool Hope University UCU
Jess Achilleos – UCU
Jo McNeill -UCU
Danny Blair – UCU
Richard Kirkwood – UCU, Hackney TUC
Abi O’Connor – UCU, University of Liverpool
Rosalynd Southern – Communication Officer UCU, University of Liverpool
Lauren Sandford – Secretary, UCU University of Liverpool
James Roscoe – PGR Rep, UCU, University of Liverpool
Lynn Hancock – UCU, University of Liverpool
Debs Gwyn – National Executive Merseyside and Lancashire, NEU
Hazel Danson – National Officer, NEU
Colleen Johnson – Seat Holder Disabled Members National Exec, NEU
Simon Murch – Joint Secretary, Sheffield NEU & National Executive, NEU
Jess Edwards- Executive Member NEU
Denise Henry – NEU Black Members Representative
Elizabeth Mclean – Welsh Executive Member, NEU
Doug Morgan – Assistant Secretary, Birmingham NEU
Christopher Denson- National Executive NEU
Shelia Caffery – National Executive, NEU
Nicola Hawkins – National Executive NEU
Daniel Giblin – Regional Chair, Fire Brigades Union
Ollie Burrow – Cumbria Brigade Secretary, Fire Brigades Union
Tom Cogley – Lancashire Chair, Fire Brigades Union
Ed Burrows- Regional Secretary North West FBU
Ben Jones – Fire Brigades Union
Stephen Spencer – H&S Branch Rep, Fire Brigades Union
Les Skarratts – Executive Committee Member, Fire Brigades Union
David Pike – Secretary, Greater Manchester Fire Brigades Union
Martin Cavanagh – PCS Deputy President, PCS Group President (DWP), PCS NW Regional Chair
Rita Berry – Chair, DWP Liverpool Branch PCS
Sarah Morton – Branch Secretary, DWP Liverpool Branch, PCS
Bryan Carlsen – Branch Secretary, PCS
Michelle Doyle – Equality Rep, PCS
Angela Grant – PCS Union NEC – Group Vice President – National Black Members Committee – NW Regional Committee Vice Chair
Marianne Owens – PCS National Executive Committee
Tracy Abrahams – PCS Midlands
Davis Owens – National Committee Member, PCS ARMS
Steve Swainston – PCS
Maz Gaskell – PCS
Kate Douglas – PCS
Chris Clarke – Equality Officer, PCS
Paul Williams – PCS NEC member and DFT Group President
Tim Nicholls – PCS Dorset
Niki Burns – PCS
Tony Oneill – Branch Rep, PCS
Ian Lawther – Chair R&C East Midlands PCS Branch, Assistant group secretary and PCS NEC member
Sharon Ineill – PCS
Keith Hebron – ARMS PCS Merseyside
Antoni Chmielowski – PCS HMRC
Claire Keenan –Stratford R&C PCS branch organiser, GEC member
Kneale Faragher – PCS
Sarah Ensor – National Executive Committee and Branch Secretary PCS
Paul Chadwick – Secretary, CWU Warrington Mail Centre Branch
Brian Parsons – CWU Branch Official
Nadeem Khan – Local & National CWU officer, BAME & Political Officer
Liam Royle – CWU
Helen Wilkie – CWU/NUJ
Seam Miskimmon – NEC Member, RMT
Steven Shaw – NEC Member North West and North Wales, RMT
Daren Ireland – Regional Organiser, RMT
Karl Schofield – Liverpool No 5 Branch Chair, RMT
William Kimm – Liverpool No 5 Branch Secretary, RMT
John Tilley – Regional Organiser, RMT
Christopher Knibb – President North West and North Wales Regional Council, RMT
Darren Pilling – Secretary, North West and North Wales Regional Council, RMT
Charlie Whealan – Secretary Central and North Mersey Branch RMT
Stuart Attick – RMT
Ian Boyle – RMT
Shelagh Hewitt – RMT
Alice Bennett – Chair, Unite, Unison (West Lancashire branch) and Liverpool Momentum
Tony Gaskell – Branch Secretary, Unite NW/65
Ian Dunne -Chair, Unite NW/65
David Beale – Vice Chair, Unite NW/11500 Lancashire Community Branch
John Hayden – Unite Branch NW/127404
Louise Reecejones – Unite
Mikey Byrne – Unite
Senay Nyrang – Unite
Richard Eccles – Unite
Karen Fletcher – Unite
Matt Costello – Unite
Steve Hayden – Unite
Janet Cashman – Wirral Unite Community Branch Equalities officer.
Clara Paillard – Unite the Union, Tipping Point UK, Liverpool Climate Justice Coalition
Diane O'Gorman – Unite Community Manchester
Sarah Henney – Unite
Michael Hardy – Unite
Dawn Grant – Secretary Unite Community Wirral
Hazel Graham – Unite
Lisa Rossetti – Unite Community
Catherine Crowther – Unite
Ronald Corbin – Education Officer, Unite Community Branch NW11500
Jan Marsden – Unite Community
Adam McNamara – Unite
Jonathan Sanchi – Unite, Stand Up to Racism
Steve Hayden – Unite Community, Liverpool Labour Party
Dave Walsh – President, Liverpool Trade Union Council
Mel Guilfoyle – President Wirral Trade Union Council
Ian Seddon – Secretary Wirral Trade Union Council
Peter Billington – Secretary Lancashire Association of Trade Union Councils
Ken Cridland – Secretary Blackpool, Fylde & Wyre Trade Union Council
Holly Turner – NHS Workers Say No
Sarah Wilks – GP, NHS
Anushka Schwager-Patel – Decolonise UoL
Mandy Vere – News from Nowhere (Retired), Unite
Gail Bradbrook – Co-Founder Extinction Rebellion
Judy Ugonna – Extinction Rebellion Merseyside
Jane Garde – Extinction Rebellion
Zoe Cohen – Extinction Rebellion
Nicky Crosby – Extinction Rebellion Merseyside
Cath O’Rourke – Sefton Climate Action Group
Sarah Davies – Liverpool Friends of the Earth
Leelou GF – Global Justice Youth
Tigs Manley – Merseyside Youth for Justice (Global Justice Now youth network)
Susan Ward – Christian Climate Action
Tony Norbury – Secretary, Wirral Co-op Party
Tristan Beach – Socialist Workers Party Merseyside
David Bridge – Stand Up to Racism
A Kan – Stand Up to Racism, Hate Racist Monitoring GROUP
Wendy Smith – Founder, MUFC Fans Against Racism
Nina Houghton – Merseyside Solidarity Knows no Borders
Helen Dickson – Founding Member, Merseyside Solidarity Knows no Borders
Ruth Austen-Vincent – Unison and XR Merseyside
Katherine Jenner – Extinction Rebellion
Laurie Kay – Organiser Fridays for Future Liverpool
Amy Reeves – Organiser Fridays for Future Liverpool
Julia Simpkins – Assistant secretary Bolton NEU
Marie Harrison – Co-Chair Merseyside Pensioners Association. Unite the Union
Tony Rimmer – Co-Chair Merseyside Pensioners Association
Audrey White – Secretary Merseyside Pensioners Association
Lynda Sergent – Social Secretary, Merseyside Pensioners Association, Unite the Union, Bakers union.
Victoria Cuckson – PCS Union, Unite Community 567, Merseyside Pensioners Association
Valerie Elson – Merseyside Pensioners Association
David Toller – Treasurer Merseyside Pensioners Association
Lesley Rimmer – Merseyside Pensioners Association
Linda Heap – Assistant Treasurer Merseyside Pensioners Association
Margaret Tyson – Merseyside Pensioners Association
Rhona O'Brien – Unite Community Member, Merseyside Pensioner's Association, Friends of the Earth, Liverpool Climate Justice Coalition, Merseyside Solidarity Network
Terry Clarke – Merseyside Pensioners Association
Jeremy Hawthorn – Coordinator Liverpool Friends of Palestine
James Lees – Liverpool Friends of Palestine
Michelle Cox – Chair, Steve Biko Housing Association Liverpool
Ben Squires – CEO, Liverpool school of plastering
Julia Nelki – Retired Child Psychiatrist NHS
Mo Ungi – NASUWT
Nigel James – Workplace rep, NASUWT
Jessica Weaver – University of Liverpool
Micheal Vernett Showers – Unite Against Racism
Dylan Thomas – Member Defence Coordinator ACORN
Thomas Preston-Cahil – ACORN
Georgina Schueller – ACORN
Steve Walker – Editor Swawkbox
Lynn Wilde – University of Liverpool
Sepeedeh Saleh – University of Liverpool/Oldham Council Public Health
Eleanor Godwin – University of Liverpool
Bruce Routledge – University of Liverpool
Aldona Norkus – University of Liverpool
Rachel Pope – Reader in European Prehistory University of Liverpool
Grainne McMahon – Senior Lecturer (Huddersfield) and Research Lead/ Trustee (RAPAR) University of Huddersfield and RAPAR
Keith Hebron – ARMS PCS Merseyside
Khan Odita – Founder Mulgrave Street Action Group CIC
Linda Hackett – Chair, Wirral Amnesty
Linda Bacon – Liverpool Amnesty
Shahzeb Aslam – Liverpool Amnesty Society
Emma Scott – Medact
Felicity Dowling – Left Unity, Liverpool 47 Surcharged Councillors
Teresa Williamson – Patients Not Passports
Maria Oreilly – Nans against the nazis
Pat Harvey – Nans against the nazis, Unite
Kathy Anderson – Business Manager Progressive Futures
Lewis Rees Melville – Socialist Party, General Secretary Edge Hill Socialist Students
Mansoor Hassan – National Union of Journalists
Gary Roberts – Chair, National Union of Journalists Manchester Branch
Kath Grant – Secretary Manchester and Salford National Union of Journalists
Steve Anderson – Stand Up to Racism.
Catherine Hughes – High Peak Stand Up to Racism
Ameen Hadi – Chair, Salford City Unison, Northwest TUC Black Workers Committee
Elain Jones – Chair, Cheshire and Wirral Community Health Unison
Carol Rowe – Unison, Labour Party
Gerry O'Gorman – Unison
Mandy Williams – Unison
David Calland – Unison
James Robinson – Branch Secretary Knowsley Unison
Lois Founds – Unison
Dean Ryan – Shop Steward, Islington Unison
Martin Timson – Steward Unison Merseytravel / LCRCA
Mal Ferguson – Joint Secertary, Unison Merseytravel / LCRCA
Nigel Grant – Streatham Labour Constituency
Sue Quinlan – Labour Party
Jordan David – Secretary Walton Constituency Labour Party
Susan Dykes – Secretary Clubmoor Branch Labour Party
Lesley Spillard – Labour Party
Carol Beckett – Women’s Officer Labour Party
Mike Cushman – Membership Secretary, Jewish Voice for Labour
Nicholas Postlethwaite – Passionist Congregation
Kris Pears – Pax Christi
Claire Hetherington – Our Common Home, Holy Apostles & Martyrs catholic parish, Wallasey
Anne Litherland – Holy Apostles and Martyrs parish
Munzi Ali – Chair, Sefton Multicultural Centre
Sharon Paris Chambers – Founder Temple of Inner Peace
Revd. Keith Hitchman – Vicar, St Michael-in-the-Hamlet Church & Christ Church Toxteth Park
Eleanor Dalton – St Anne’s Justice and Peace group
Clive Donnley – Human Rights educator/National Team Director, Atlas Movement
Abi Deivanayagam – Race & Health Advocacy Lead
Brennda Nasr – NHS Practice Manager
Val Colvin – Nurse
Sasha Simic – Branch Rep Usdaw C13 Central Books Branch
Paul Regan – Secretary GMB Trafford
Danny Burns -Branch President, GMB k28 Branch Knowsley
Karen Davies – Organiser GMB
Peter Colins – GMB
Karen Copsey – Joint Secretary, NEU
Katy McAuley – NEU Retired member
Karen William – National Executive, NEU
Heather McKenzie – NEC National Women’s Forum Chair TUC GC, NEU
Leigh Seedhouse – District Secretary, Oxfordshire NEU
Dawn Taylor – National Executive, NEU
Jack Roberts – Assistant Secretary, Liverpool NEU
Nick Wigmore – National Executive, NEU
Sue Amariello – National Executive, NEU
Robin Head – National Executive, NEU
Ed Harlow – National Executive, NEU
Emma Parker – Executive Member and Durham Joint Branch and District Secretary NEU
Jon Reddiford – National Executive, NEU
Carol Wing – Committee Member, Oxfordshire NEU
Stefan Simms – Secretary & National Executive NEU
Jane Bassett – Officer, NEU
Murray Sackwild – National Executive, NEU
Emma Rose – Senior Vice President, NEU
Nicky Downes – National Executive NEU
Louise Regan – National Officer NEU
Warren Chambers – District Secretary, NEU
Jamie Doran – Clover Films
Emma Leaper – Action Asylum National Coordinator Asylum Link Merseyside
Dave Evans – Volunteer Asylum Link Merseyside
Michelle Charters – Chief Executive Officer Kuumba Imani Millennium Centre
Dr Luna Munoz – Founder, The Luminary Group LTD
Lucy Dossor – Director Growing Sudley CIC
Arizona Muse – Founder, DIRT
Caroline Mair-Toby – Director She Changes Climate Institute for Small Islands
Antointte Vermilye – Co-founder She Changes Climate
Cindy Forde – Founder, Planetari
Tony Jennings – Secretary, Croxteth Community Garden
Stephenie Warren – Director, Stella Dore Gallery
Nathaneal Hoian – Liverpool John Moore’s Student
Annie O'Brien
Emily Hollands
Irene Leonard
Colette Byrne
Danny Gazzi
Anna Kiriakoulakis
Oksana Yatsenyak
Clare Pitt
Eileen Barry
David Parry
Karen Jackson
Debbie Lange
Ana Perich
Alia Boqash
Shelah Semoff
Jenna Ali
Becky Fitch
Peter Connell
Rose Chandler
Pauline Philippe
Seemus Keavy
Alica Esteban
Will McGowan
Racheal Emblem
Jemma Russell
Mary Whitby
Leah Gilman
Nicole Williams
Stewart Walsh
Mike Harries
Ian Williamson
Brendon Deacy
Erin Smith
June Gilbert
Oliver Schafer
Ann Bridge
David Fagan
Ken Pickup
David Dunne
Dawn Grant
John Grant
Jon Greenwood
Gillian Homeri
Nathan Williams
Mathew Dennis
Antonia Russell
Heidi Spring-Jones
Christina Averhart
Paul Bannon
Pete Smullen
Alma Yaniv
Irene Leonard
Chris Helm
George Wilmers
Dave Gibbons
Philip Moroney
Luke Stephenson
Joe Kelly
Leila Mimmack
Tony Harper
Lorraine Brown
Abi Wells
Terry Casey
Val Walsh
Ellen Speed
Peter Martin
Holly Harwood
Natalie Sumner
Micheal Simon
Ed Townsend
Joanne McNeils
Jem Martin-Gibson
Marie Walsh
Kath Gilbert
Jake Roney
Rebecca Smyth
Heather Nunnen
Mel Sulivan
Julie McKenzie
Cina Aissa
Sabrina Fogg
Paul Bannon
Sheila Freedman
Charlie Hall
Diane Burns
Pauline Gibbons
Yvonne Lunney
Anne-Marie Watson
Christopher Ryley
Iain Stewart
Louise Caferra
Marie Watson
Margaret Touati
Meg Juss
Stephen Kennedy
Judith Agis
Veronica Leacock
Sarah T
Jenny Secretan
Margate Bailey
Gareth Jenkins
Hannah Fyson
Zahir Aziz
Peter Chowney
Conor O’Neill
Jeffery Shields
Nic Baird
Cameron Dineen
Jeanette Hampson
Rebecca O'Gorman
Suami Rocha
Alyson Thornton
Bernadette Akpan
Suzi Keating
Sharon Cole
Sara Munikwa
Alex Cupid
Claire Wilde
Michelle Gibson
Derek Fraser
Vicki Malik
Alison Cassidy
Philp Moroney
Mal Bride
Gwyneth Farleigh
Genevieve Smart
Jane Shipley
Drew Shapter
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