THE local community gathered at Eccles Cross on December 9th ahead of Human Rights Day to show their support.

Human Rights Day commemorates the United Nations General Assembly adopting the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Each year at Eccles Cross the local community of all faiths and religions gather to show their support.

The vigil began with a candle lighting and was followed by a performances from The Arabic Childrens Choir and the Refugee choir. As well as speeches and readings in remembrance of those across the world whose right to be different is threatened.

Angie Tunstall, Organiser of the Vigil told Quays News:

“I’ve been working on this event since September with a group of local residents and we got as many people as we could to come and sing and speak. The Arabic Childrens choir are here, which I think is amazing and the Refugee choir who are made up of women from all across Manchester.”

The story of Alan Henning, a local 47-year-old taxi driver, is one of many tragedies that have affected the Eccles area. Alan was taken and killed by Islamic State whilst doing charity work in Syria in 2014.

Solidarity tree at Candlelight Vigil

“It is so important that events like these happen, Alan Henning’s daughter is here and just to be able to here in Eccles make a difference and to bring different communities together in the name of Human Rights and in the name of peace is really important to me.”

Gadri, who had previously lived in Yemen, gave a speech on the country being deprived of basic Human Rights. He finishes his speech by encouraging people to pray for countries all around the world, in aid to finally stop war.

Residents were also invited to write messages and hung them on the solidarity tree, which will be given to those who are imprisoned around the world by Amnesty International.

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