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Hundreds joined political and religious leaders at Highbury Fields on Saturday to denounce racism and call for unity after the fallout from the European referendum.

The Love Islington – Say No to Hate Crime rally was called last week following a five-fold increase in hate crime across the country, including incidents in Islington.

Clerkenwell councillor Raphael Andrews was racially abused in a supermarket and xenophobic graffiti was painted on a shed in Newington Green post-Brexit.

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn criticised the “truly atrocious” language used in the referendum campaign and warned: “Racism and xenophobia end up with people hating people, with one minority being blamed for this and another for that. It ends up with the gas chambers in Dachau in Nazi Germany.”

He said government should work towards making the fight against hate crime a central function of all local authorities and called for better funding nationally for bodies tackling the issue.

The Islington North MP urged Islington to “set an example” to the nation by setting up a new anti-racist group.

“This is so we can come together quickly to work with our council and to get the resources we need but above all to educate our children and our community that racism has no place in our society,” he said.

“If you see a hate crime taking place, don’t walk by on the other side. Walk across the road and stand in solidarity with them because that is the way we defeat these hate crimes.

“In the ashes of the horror of the last seven days and the rise of all this race hate can we not bring ourselves together, become stronger and recognise economic equality will lead to decency and real equality for people in our society?”

Islington South and Finsbury MP Emily Thornberry echoed Mr Corbyn’s message as she urged Islington’s “extraordinary community” to set an example.

She said: “How did this happen to us? We have been lied to by a government which decided to hold a referendum with no plan B. Why? Because of internal party politics.”

Ms Thornberry rounded on members of her own party who attempted to force Mr Corbyn’s resignation last week. “They have resorted to squabbling, which I think is a disgrace” she said. “Now is the time for calm heads for how to get out of this mess.”

Other speakers included the Rev Simon Harvey, vicar of St Mary’s Church in Upper Street, Moham­med Kozbar, chairman of Finsbury Park Mosque, which has been the target of hate crime in the past few months, Rabbi Mendy Korer and Hillrise councillor Michelline Ngongo.