The Daily Mirror kicked off its annual nationwide anti-racism campaign - Hope not Hate from middle of May in the run-up to June’s local council and European elections, The Guardian reports.
The campaign was launched in conjunction with anti-fascist group Searchlight, aiming to push a message of tolerance and diversity to counteract campaigning by groups such as the BNP.
Richard Wallace, the editor of Daily Mirror told The Guardian: “It is vital that this country remains a place where hope and harmony triumph over hate and division. Britain’s fair, equal, multicultural society is one of our greatest assets and must be celebrated and protected.”
Following the BNP candidates elected over the Euro election in early June, thousands of people in Britain signed anti-BNP petition to express their outrage over the result.
The new Hope Not Hate petition had gathered 87, 000 signatures and almost 7, 000 photographs of British voters holding up signs with the message Not In My Name.
The Daily Mirror had travelled with Hope Not Hate activists to Strasbourg on 14 July, as it is an official date for these two BNP elected candidates, Griffin, in the North West region and Andrew Brons, in Yorkshire and Humber to take up their seats.
In Strasbourg, the Mirror and Hope Not Hate activists had presented the petition to the European Parliament. Its message that BNP dose not speak for the British people had been sent across, according to Daily Mirror.
Nick Lowles, Hope Not Hate organiser told the Daily Mirror: “We intend to show that most British people are against everything the racist BNP stand for, how can they possibly represent Britain when a whole generation risked and gave their lives to fight fascism?”
He then added the collapse of trust in the major political parties with the recent expenses scandal helped the BNP increase its share of the vote.
The nationwide anti-racism campaign had backed by celebrities including Sir Alan Sugar, John Terry, Amir Khan, Jamie Oliver, Frank Lampard, Mel B, and the cast of Coronation Street, Hollyoaks and Emmerdale, The Guardian reports.
Amir Khan said in an exclusive with Daily Mirror he is proud to be British and to be a Muslim.
The 22-year-old was one of British boxing’s brightest young hopes, he had fought at the 2004 Olympics and carried a nation’s hopes with him.
He is a fighter, as well a hero, said to be very proud of his heritage.
He told Daily Mirror he felt good to be a positive role model and the respects showed from his fans means a lot to him, that he is doing something good and people are just want to be like him.
The Hope not Hate campaign, toured from London, Leicester, Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool and Newcastle would be last until early June, 2009.
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