Middlesbrough Mayor Chris Cooke has praised the town’s resilient spirit after hundreds of residents united to clean up the town following a night of widespread disorder.
The clean-up effort saw a large number of volunteers converging at the town’s Cenotaph before 8am, ready to roll up their sleeves and restore the town centre to its former state. This display of community solidarity came on the heels of a shameful outbreak of crime and disorder during a protest in the town on Sunday.
Mayor Cooke addressed the situation, saying: “The scenes we witnessed on Sunday have no place in Middlesbrough, and do not represent the diverse and welcoming town we all know and love.
“Violence and hate speech will never prevail here, or break the wonderful community spirit that is the very embodiment of this place.
“We also all owe a huge debt of gratitude to Cleveland Police who displayed immense bravery in the face of such mindless thuggery, and they will have our full support in bringing those responsible to justice.
“To see so many people who care about Middlesbrough and their fellow residents coming together this morning to help in the clean-up operation has been truly humbling, and that should be the abiding image people have of our town.”
The weekend’s troubling events, which drew national attention, left many residents shocked and disheartened. However, the swift response from the community has been a powerful reminder of the town’s enduring spirit and the shared values that bind its residents together.
A spokesperson for Middlesbrough’s Interfaith Network reinforced this sentiment, stating: “As Middlesbrough’s multi-faith communities, we reject and condemn hate in all its forms, which stems from division and fear.
“Instead, we collectively stand for compassion, respect, unity and love for each other.”
The coordinated effort to clean up the town has been hailed as a testament to Middlesbrough’s resilience. Volunteers from all walks of life joined forces, proving that the town’s true character shines brightest in times of adversity. As the town looks forward, this unity and determination will be key in rebuilding and moving past the recent unrest, ensuring that the Middlesbrough everyone knows and loves continues to thrive.
