Hastings unites to celebrate multiculturalism

Under the banner "Hastings Celebrates Multiculturalism, Diversity & Inclusion", the event aimed to emphasise that everyone should be able to live in the town without fear or hostility due to their race, religion, nationality, sexuality, gender identity, or disability.

Jenny Sutton, from Hastings and Bexhill Stand Up to Racism, said: "At the moment there's a lot of challenge to the idea that multiculturalism works and I think it's really important that we're here today in Hastings saying we're celebrating all our communities in all our diversity. We know there are problems in society, but those problems are not caused by refugees, migrants, black and brown people, trans people, disabled people. Actually, everybody's got a part to play in our community, and so yeah, we're here to celebrate."

Councillor Solly Solamito, Corporate Services, Communities and Equalities Portfolio Holder at Hastings Borough Council, added: "This is an important day for us. We wanted to celebrate unity in Hastings at a time when things seem very divided in some parts of our communities. There's a lot of frustration and anger about people coming in on boats, people of different skin colour, and the rise of intolerant behaviour is very, very worrying for a lot of us. So, we thought it was a good idea actually to remind people of the wonderful things that help make this town a great place to live in, including people of difference, the contributions that everyone makes, and the importance of safety for everyone in our community here."

The march was organised by a coalition of local faith groups, trade unions, equality campaigners, community organisations and political groups. The parade gathered at noon in Warrior Square Gardens. It then proceeded along the seafront to a rally in Hastings town centre, featuring speakers, music, and entertainment.

Nandi Msezane is a migrant worker from South Africa who now lives and works in Bexhill. She said: "For me it's really important to have the communities of Hastings come together in unity to stand up against racism because for myself as a migrant worker who came to live in Bexhill it's been a welcoming town but also in the last few weeks and months just living in the UK has become much scarier.

"I have a son, and thinking about what happened in Dover with masked men intimidating black and brown people and ensuring that people who are coming to this country seeking safety could not get out of freezing cold waters, when the sea doesn't look at skin colour, or your need, and would kill you. The fact that they thought that was appropriate is really scary to me."