A Community Picnic, organised by the organisation ‘Hope Not Hate’ and supported by the North’s largest trade union, UNISON, will be held this Saturday (3rd September) between 12pm and 2pm in Newcastle’s Exhibition Park.
The event is part of a national day of events which ‘Hope Not Hate’ are organising in memory of Jo Cox MP, under the banner of ‘More in Common’. This campaign is dedicated to the memory of Jo Cox, the MP for Batley & Spen who, in her short time as an MP before she was so tragically murdered, strove to bring different communities together.
Commenting on the event, UNISON’s new Regional Secretary, Clare Williams, said: “Division, hatred and fear is so often the daily diet of our media. Good news is no news. However, that is often not the reality in our communities. The vast majority of people want to get along together. Most of us want to get to know people of different cultures and backgrounds. Some of us would simply like to know our neighbours better.”
She continued: “This community picnic is an opportunity for people to enjoy each other’s company in a relaxed and fun setting, and a way of getting to know other people who live locally. We should recognise that we have more in common than what divides us. Even where there are differences and divisions, this campaign is about working through our problems in a positive and constructive way.”