On Saturday 18 October at 7pm, the Brighton & Hove Anti-Hate Crime Vigil, organised by the Brighton & Hove Community Forum (LGBT CSF), was held in Brighton near Old Steine Gardens.

The LGBT CSF is an independent community forum of volunteers working with the community to address and improve safety issues throughout Brighton & Hove.

The vigil was one of many that took place simultaneously across the country, held to mark the three nail bomb attacks that took place in London in 1999 on April 17, 24 and 30, killing three and injuring 139.

The primary focus of the vigil was to remember and commemorate the London Nail Bomb Attacks on Brixton, Brick Lane and Soho, and to support the communities that were attacked to unite people against all forms of Hate Crime.

Rev. Michael Hydes from the Metropolitan Community Church in Brighton, an avid supporter of the LGBT community, opened the vigil, with the Brighton Gay Men’s Chorus providing music for attendees watching under heated marquees as candles were being handed out.

An attendee, Lisa Gilpin, said: “The Brighton & Hove Anti-Hate Crime Vigil is an opportunity where we call can band together against all types of hate crime and discrimination.

“The London nail bombings were violent attacks against minority communities, and this date gives anyone who wants to come a chance to share their thoughts and experiences, and reflect upon positivity within our communities”.

Students at Sussex are now able to report hate crimes to the Students’ Union. Rianna Gargiulo, the Welfare Officer for the University of Sussex Student’s Union, has recently received training on how to report hate crimes alongside Activities Officer Lyndsay Burtonshaw, Education Officer Bethan Hunt, Operations Officer Dan Greenberg, and Student Voice Advocate Kathy O’Regan.

Rianna Gargiulo has said: “Essentially, we take down the events of an incident and a student is able to report that to the police without having to make police contact (which often they might not feel comfortable doing), and can remain confidential, whilst their report goes towards statistics/ making sure funding goes into tackling the right thing.”