Yaxley-Lennon is expected to visit Bootle this weekend
Jamie Carragher is among the names to sign a letter rejecting Tommy Robinson's visit to Bootle this weekend.
Robinson, real name Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, is expected to visit the Bootle area of Liverpool this weekend, but several notable figures have signed a letter explaining that the former EDL leader is not welcome on Merseyside.
The letter reads: "We strongly oppose the politics of hate and division being led by Stephen Yaxley-Lennon’s campaign.
"Yaxley-Lennon plans to visit Bootle on his tour of the north west on May 19 and we will stand united with all of our communities to let him know his politics are not welcome here.
"After 10 years of austerity and increasing deprivation within our communities, we are proud that we have worked together to protect our neighbourhoods and the most vulnerable in society.
"Austerity was a Tory and Liberal Democratic political choice, not an economic necessity and not the fault of any ethnic group or religion.
"Hate is not tolerated in Bootle, across Sefton and Merseyside.
"There are both leave and remain voters in Bootle but people here did not vote for hate, they took part in a democratic referendum which Yaxley-Lennon is using to breed a narrative that does not represent the residents of Bootle.
"Yaxley-Lennon has a history of violence, racism and criminal activity which he has tried to hide and point the finger at different ethnic or religious groups that do not deserve to be treated with such hate.
"We welcome and encourage everyone to join us on Sunday, in protest against Yaxley-Lennon’s message of division.
"Our unity is our strength."
The letter has the seal of approval from Carragher, as well as many
MPs including Peter Dowd, Dan Carden, Bill Esterson and Munzi Ali, of the South Sefton Muslim Community.
