Success of One Preston event could see it repeated next year

Plans are being made for an annual One Preston, One Community celebration, following Saturday's success.
SUCCESS: Visitors to Saturdays One Preston One Community eventSUCCESS: Visitors to Saturdays One Preston One Community event
SUCCESS: Visitors to Saturdays One Preston One Community event

The event, held on the Flag Market, ran at the same time as an EDL rally in nearby Birley Street.

It featured calliagraphy classes, entertainment, cake and balloons. Organisers also handed out red roses with messages of peace and love.

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Mukhtar Master, who helped organise the One Preston event, said he was “staggered” by the response.

He said: “There is clearly a desire to work again, possibly on an annual event in Preston to celebrate the city’s fantastic diversity, unity, and above all respect that we have for each other regardless of any kind of difference, including our faith.”

Speaking about what compelled him to organise the event, he said: “I really wanted to re-write the usual narrative with regards to when a group like the EDL come to Preston.

“For me, Saturday’s event rewrote the narrative big time and Preston has set a benchmark which would be very difficult for any other town or city to emulate.

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“Saturday showed just how great the communities of Preston are, and without putting too fine a point to it - the people of Preston made us ‘Proud Preston’ once again.

“This was achieved through the efforts of countless of people from Preston ensuring that our message of peace, harmony and solidarity was the key theme of the day.”

Mr Master said Saturday’s celebration was even visited by three members of the EDL, who were allowed in under close scrutiny.

He said they sampled some Asian delicacies, shook some hands, and went away without any trouble.

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He said: “The police and committee members from some mosques kept an eye on them, but nothing untoward went on.

“We weren’t restricting them, our message was anybody and everybody can come and celebrate with us.”