Islington North MP Jeremy Corbyn addressing the rally at Finsbury Park mosque

PROTESTERS gathered at a rally by Finsbury Park Mosque on Saturday to oppose the racist and Islamophobic riots that have been taking place across the UK.

A group of more than 400 people listened to speeches by community members, as well as council leader Kaya Comer-Schwartz and Islington North MP Jeremy Corbyn, before marching down Seven Sisters Road.

“People found the solidarity really emotional and comforting,” said Green councillor Benali Hamdache, who also spoke at the rally. “People are really proud to live in Islington. Islington is somewhere that has become more and more diverse for many decades. It’s a story of how to bring communities together.”

During his speech, Cllr Hamdache spoke of the “awful racism” that his father had experienced when he first arrived in the UK as an Algerian immigrant in the 1970s.

“He thought things would get better. But for the last 10 years, the warning signs have been here,” said Mr Hamdache.

“I know from my dad about the violence he has experienced on the street, the discrimination from officials, from people under the Tory government. They have deliberately fostered a hostile environment against us all.”

Maria, 4, tells the crowd: ‘I’m a refugee’

He added: “And we have to be unafraid to call out every politician who indulges in this, whatever colour rosette they are wearing.”

One four-year-old girl, Maria, a Syrian refugee who is currently going through the asylum process, was hoisted onto another attendee’s shoulders where she told the crowd: “I’m a refugee,” which was greeted with shouts and cheers.

Cllr Hamdache said: “We do have refugee hotels in north London. These people are stuck waiting for the government to decide on their cases. To see hotels attacked, it must have been a really difficult and scary time. Imagine having to explain that to your four-year-old kid.”

The Green councillor added that, in the wake of the riots, Keir Starmer’s government should focus on prevention.

“We have to address the hatred of social media,” Cllr Hamdache said. “We have to work to reassure and bring communities together, and we have to be serious, we have to have a proper process for deradicalising the far right.”

Cllr Comer-Schwartz said: “It was an honour to speak at the rally last week, and to see so many of our communities from Islington and beyond come together to oppose the racist riots we have seen.”

She added: “Islington has a long-standing history of opposing racism and fascism, and as a Borough of Sanctuary, it is important that we continue to do so, to show our support for our ethnically minoritised communities in particular and re-emphasise that no matter where you come from, you are welcome here.”