AT a time when we should all be coming together, I find it deplorable that polarisation and hate are running rampant in a community that has historically been accepting.

What happened in Southport is absolutely unacceptable, it is truly saddening that the community are having to deal with the loss of three little girls who had so much ahead of them. 

However, instead of focusing on the joy of their life, or even the upset in their death, the attention that Bebe King, Elsie Dot Stancombe and Alice Dasilva Aguiar rightfully deserve has been stolen by those wishing to stoke violence.

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I grew up, and live, in an incredibly multicultural town, something which I have always been incredibly proud of. Aldershot has shown respect for different cultures and religions, especially those of Nepalese descent.

The area is even known by many as 'Little Kathmandu', the capital of Nepal, as more than 10,000 Nepali people live in Aldershot due to the town previously having a strong connection with Gurkhas; units in the British Army comprised of Nepalis.

However, the town has recently been featured in the news due to the violence that unfolded on Wednesday, July 31 which left a police officer injured.

The actions of attendees at the demonstration outside Potter's Hotel were nothing more than an attempt to polarise the town, the opinions of the few rather than the many.

And an attempt to supposedly 'save children' has left children in the area frightened and distressed to leave their houses, and engage in a community which should be nothing but welcoming.

Instead of engaging in this behaviour, we should be asking what we can do to support the families of the victims, pouring our efforts into fundraising rather than fighting. 

A heartwarming example of this is the Swifties for Southport fundraiser, with thousands of people internationally providing money to ensure that the children's hospital in the area can support those affected.

That's what we should be doing, coming together to support each other rather than making generalisations based on minimal facts.

Racism and Islamaphobia isn't welcome in Aldershot, nor will it ever be.