Over 100 to perform in 24-hour vigil for tolerance at DMU


More than 150 students and staff at De Montfort University Leicester (DMU) are coming together to hold a 24-hour vigil to show solidarity with refugees and victims of intolerance.

After Vice-Chancellor Professor Dominic Shellard offered support and advice to anyone left feeling worried and isolated by recent political events, he was inundated with messages from people expressing a desire to do something in response.

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As a result, more than 150 students and staff from the university have volunteered to come together in a 24 hour open-air vigil at the university. 

During the vigil, staff and students will be sharing their feelings on tolerance, politics and freedom though a variety of performances and readings.

The vigil will start with a speech by the Vice-Chancellor in DMU’s Hawthorn Square at midday on Wednesday 8 February and will then run right through to 12pm the following day.

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Muslim students will talk about the effect of hate crime and international students will help make placards in world languages. DMU’s Chamber Choir, the Red Leicester Choir, DMU’s Bollywood Dance Society and student musicians have all volunteered to take part.

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DMU’s chaplain Rev. Hilary Surridge, Imam Mohammed Laher, Leicester City Deputy Mayor Rory Palmer, the Very Revd David Monteith, Dean of Leicester, and Vice-Chancellor Professor Dominic Shellard will all make contributions among others.

Professor Shellard said: “I sent an email to our staff and students last week, offering support around the implications of recent events in the US and elsewhere, and I was inundated with replies.

“Many stated they wanted to do something but were unsure as to what can be done. The vigil seemed the natural platform for people to have their say, show how they feel in the way they want.

“It will demonstrate that we at DMU are proud citizens of the world and that we completely reject intolerance, divisiveness, walls and bans.”

Posted on Monday 6 February 2017

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