HUNDREDS of people took to the streets in Glasgow yesterday in an anti-racism march and rally.

A minute’s silence was held at the Stand Up to Racism event in memory of the 50 people murdered in the New Zealand terror attack.

Members of the crowd chanted “we stand with Christchurch” as they gathered in George Square.

Before the rally a petition backed by Glasgow Palestine Human Rights Campaign and Glasgow Fight Racism Fight Imperialism was launched online in a bid to stop Glasgow Friends of Israel and the Confederation of Friends of Israel in Scotland attending.

A small number of counter-protesters in George Square were kept away from the main rally. A statement from Unite the Union Scotland said: “There has been a rise in far-right, racist and xenophobic attitudes which has been given oxygen by some of the current debates surrounding the decision by the British public to leave the EU.

“There is an urgent need for all decent-thinking people to come together under a banner of democracy and equality to stand against those that try to divide us. The message is clear; let’s stand together to promote tolerance, acceptance and equality.”