‘We are all on this planet for a short time... there’s no time for hatred’
PEOPLE in Bridgend have gathered together in remembrance of MP Jo Cox and the victims of the Orlando nightclub massacre.
A poignant vigil to show solidarity with the LGBT community and Jo’s family was held in the town centre where speakers urged everyone to hate less and love more.
“I will not tolerate intolerance any more. I pledge this to Jo Cox and to those murdered in Orlando,” Ogmore AM Huw Irranca-Davies told the crowd.
“I will not stand by, we should not stand by, you should not stand by. We should challenge intolerance at every turn.”
Around 100 people gathered in the pouring rain on Wyndham Street on Sunday evening for the event organised by Councillor David White and Bridge FM breakfast show host Lee Jukes and which also featured the Noteworthy choir.
Among the speakers was the American Reverend Bill McDonald and Bridgend MP Madeleine Moon, who urged everyone to live their lives not in fear, but as they wish to live them.
Newly-elected Ogmore MP Chris Elmore spoke movingly of his friend Jo, who died after being shot and stabbed in her constituency on Thursday.
“There are people alive in this world because of Jo Cox,” he said.
“She literally got the law changed before she was an MP, never mind when she was, to ensure that people around our world, people who are worse off, people who are refugees, people who are raped and attacked simply for being women in countries at war are saved.”
Lee, a supporter of the LGBT community, said: “We are all individual and we are all on this planet for a very short time. Surely there’s not enough time for hatred?
“Sexuality, religion, race, belief. These things are all individual. The one thing that makes us all the same is that we are all human beings.
“We all have feelings and we all have a heart. I and I’m sure you cried for every one of those individuals and for their families and friends.”
Following the hour-long event, Coun White said: “I would like to thank every speaker who spoke so movingly and their words were so humbling and the choir, Noteworthy, who sang so beautifully.
“I would also like to thank the members of the public for attending the vigil in the heavy rain, who also gave up part of their Father’s Day.
“Around 100 members of the public attended to ensure that a clear message of support is delivered to Orlando and the family of the MP Jo Cox.
“The borough of Bridgend will stand in solidarity with you and with those who are being persecuted in other places around the globe because of their political beliefs, race, religion or sexuality.
“The borough recognises that love will always win over hate each and every occasion, they will not be a lone voice standing on their own.”