Emergency meeting as unrest sparks concern

Twenty people have been arrested so far since violent disorder broke out in Bristol on Saturday night

An organisation that promotes racial justice has organised an emergency meeting to listen to concerns following a series of protests across the country.

Gloucestershire Race Collective arranged Friday's online event after false rumours spread that far-right protests were going to take place in the county earlier this week.

The collective's spokesperson said people in diverse ethnic communities are feeling "fearful and anxious".

"Our primary goal is to ensure that the voices of our communities are heard and questions are answered," a spokesperson added.

Community-led solutions will be fed back to those in power following the meeting, the collective said.

The group issued a statement on Monday condemning the disorder and racial hatred that swept the UK following the fatal stabbing of three young girls in Southport.

"As a Gloucestershire-based racial justice infrastructure, our primary goal is to ensure that the voices of our communities are heard, questions are answered, and community-led solutions are fed back to stakeholders and those in power.

"In light of this, we have organised an emergency meeting to listen to your concerns, provide support, and foster a community-led approach to ensuring the safety of everyone within our diverse communities," the spokesperson added.

The collective has encouraged people to "share their experiences about the current situation" during Friday's online meeting.

A spokesperson for the collective added the insights of those affected are "invaluable in guiding our collective response to key stakeholders".