Over this weekend millions in the United Kingdom have honored the legacy of the murdered MP Jo Cox on the anniversary of her death. Jo had been elected in 2015 and her maiden speech reflected her humanitarian work and her experience in the European Parliament.
Jo’s murder in the middle of the divisive Brexit referendum campaign caused shock around the world. From the Canadian Parliament.
As a result of the public response to Jo’s murder a fund was set up which raised over £1.5 million which was distributed between.
- The Royal Voluntary Service are creating community spaces in Batley and Spen, places where Jo's constituents can work together to strengthen and support the community and combat loneliness - a cause Jo was passionate about.
- HOPE not hate are working to unite communities across the UK, breaking down barriers and fighting hatred. The money will be spent on everything from website development to community mobilisation.
- The White Helmets are using our support to set up a 'Hero Fund'. This will support the families of over 150 White Helmets who have lost their lives carrying out life-saving humanitarian work in Syria, as well as funding the purchase of vital ambulances for emergency teams.
Any monies over the £1.5 million went to set up the Jo Cox Foundation “to channel the energy and determination generated by her life and untimely death into practical efforts to advance the causes she championed.” To further the aim of showing “we have more in common than that which divides us”, it helped organize this weekends “Great Get Together”.
The Great Get Together is inspired by Jo Cox, who was killed on 16 June last year. We believe there is a groundswell of people who reject divisive politics and simply want to bring our communities together and celebrate all that unites us. This is our chance.
As the prime minister said, when she remarked on Jo’s death in her New Year’s message: 2017 represents an opportunity to move forward and “bring this country together, as never before”.
Jo’s family and friends came up with the initiative, and The Big Lunch have teamed up with us to move their annual celebration. More than one hundred organisations are now supporting us
Especially after the events in Manchester and London recently, this seems to have struck a chord in Britain.
A hundred and forty thousand events have taken place across the country in memory of the late Batley and Spen MP, Jo Cox.
Amongst others - hundreds of families gathered at Batley Bulldogs for the so-called "Great Get-together" - in celebration of Jo's life - and her sentiment - that there is more that unites us than divides us.
The weather over the last few days has co-operated with temperatures reaching 31oC. There are calls for the event to be made annual. Regardless, Jo’s on-going legacy will be to have brought millions together in their localities and neighborhoods.