Council chiefs say the community will "always stand firm against all forms of hatred" following recent protests on the streets of Lancaster and Morecambe.
Councillor Phillip Black, leader of Lancaster City Council, and Mark Davies, chief executive, today released a joint statement in the wake of the recent unrest in Lancaster and Morecambe.
There has been a series of protests over the past two weekends from anti-illegal immigration demonstrators, and anti-racism and anti-fascism counter-protesters.
Demonstrations took place on the streets of Lancaster and Morecambe in the wake of the deaths of three young girls who were stabbed at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class in Southport on July 20.
Many arrests have been made in other parts of the country following riots and violent disorder, stoked by a wave of misinformation online about the Southport attacker.
But any issues in the Lancaster District were minimal, with protests mainly passing off peacefully amid a large police presence.
Pictured below, a police van on Marine Road in Morecambe during an anti-illegal immigration march along the Promenade on Sunday afternoon.
"The recent protests that have taken place up and down the country have been deeply unsettling," said the statement from Councillor Black and Mr Davies.
"While locally we have not seen any arrests or serious damage, we are aware that some people in our communities have been left feeling concerned and vulnerable.
"The Lancaster district has a long and proud history of welcoming people from all over the world and now is the time, more than ever, for us to celebrate diversity and how it has benefited our society.
"Together we have created a strong and vibrant community where people from all walks of life live peacefully side by side, embracing other’s culture.
"As a community we will always stand firm against all forms of hatred and we have seen, time and again, local people strongly condemn those who seek to sow division and destroy the good community relations we enjoy.
"Of course, we couldn’t do this without the support of our colleagues in other agencies, particularly the police.
"Last week we welcomed Lancashire’s Chief Constable, Sacha Hatchett, to Lancaster for a walking tour of the city and to thank the police for the way they have tackled recent events with professionalism and dedication.
Sacha Hatchett is pictured below with Councillor Black, Mr Davies and Councillor Caroline Jackson, deputy leader of the city council, in Dalton Square in Lancaster last week
"The message to our communities is that they can be reassured that the police are ready to tackle any possible future disorder, should it take place.
"The council has always enjoyed cross-party support in its pursuit of bringing people together from different faiths and backgrounds to listen, respond and collectively promote resilience in our communities.
"We are committed to continue working together, sharing experiences and knowledge in order to resist messages of hate and instead promote everything that makes living in the Lancaster district so special."
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