'We deliberately crossed the scorch marks where the car had been burnt out'

The peace walk was a powerful moment. The day before, we had held a vigil at the Minster where more than 100 people including interfaith representatives and emergency workers gathered to express their emotions in the aftermath of the violence.

Friends from the Inter-faith Forum and others particularly affected had the chance to thank everyone for their help in the clean-up effort. A young Christian woman from Sunderland, a poet, read a poem she had written on the night of the riots. It was an opportunity to lament together.

The following day there was another chance for people of good will, of all faiths and none, who abhorred what had happened, to come together to process their feelings through a Walk for Peace.

They were able to be part of an active witness in solidarity against the racist and far-right views of those who had stirred up the trouble.

As we walked, we deliberately crossed the scorch marks where the car had been burnt out, and passed the police office which had been torched.

We sprinkled water as a sign of cleansing and purification on each place where the violence had left its mark, including some blood stains on the pavement. It was a very powerful moment.

The walk was not a protest or a demo. We walked quietly, talking to one another, praying, and reflecting.

We were a diverse crowd - old and young, black, brown and white, some with pushchairs and pets, some with wheelchairs and walking sticks. It was a good cross section of society.

There was no confrontation, just a united presence as we "Reclaimed the City" - declaring that the streets of Sunderland belong to all.