Calls for unity in Sheffield after post-Brexit hate crimes
There are calls for people in Sheffield to unite in opposition to the hate crime that's followed the EU referendum result.
An event's being planned in the city this weekend to show solidarity to residents from around the world.
It comes as there's been a rise in hate crimes nationally since the UK voted to leave the EU last Thursday - with a number of high-profile incidents attracting media attention.
Lauren Braford's organising the event in Sheffield over the weekend - she says she can't believe what she's been hearing about:
"It's just so disappointing and scary really - I can't begin to imagine what it's like for someone living here who's classed as an immigrant."
She was talking with people on a Facebook page about it when she came up with the idea of creating a gathering:
"Together we were talking about how disgusting this has been and there was a real sense of what can we do? How can we show people that this is not Sheffield, this is not South Yorkshire? So I thought I'm going to set up this event - and the response has been incredible."
"This event is despite your political affiliation - there are no affiliations. Everyone's welcome regardless of how you voted regardless of what you now feel. It was really just an opportunity for us to come together with only one thing on the agenda which is to show support and solidarity."
In South Yorkshire there were seven incidents of racial hate crimes reported in the four days after the EU referendum.
That's down from 16 in the same period last year.
South Yorkshire voted overwhelmingly to leave the EU last Thursday after the Leave campaign focussed largely on the problem of immigration.
The margin was closest in Sheffield - where 51% of voters wanted to leave the EU.
Lauren says the city's a really welcoming place - and should continue to be so:
"I myself am from the North of Ireland so while I've always been a British citizen, I'm still an outsider. People often refer to Sheffield as just simply a big village and that's certainly, up to until this point, been my experience. And I think we need to hold on to that - and hold on all the people that make it what it is."
"We the people of Sheffield are standing against this racial hatred and xenophobia that we've been hearing more and more about in the press, both locally and nationally. We want to come out and support all of our neighbours, regardless of where they come from or their ethnicity or their racial background."
The event takes place at 12 noon in Meersbrook Park.