Friends of Jo Cox call for “worldwide celebration” for MP on Wednesday

Friends and supporters of Jo Cox are planning a series of global events on Wednesday to honour the murdered MP on what would have been her 42nd birthday.

Acts of remembrance and celebration will take place in Cox’s Batley and Spen constituency, as well as London, New York, Washington, Brussels and Nairobi.

“Across the world, we will gather together to celebrate Jo’s life, her warmth, love, energy, passion, flair, Yorkshire heritage, and her belief in the humanity of every person in every place, from Batley and Spen to Aleppo and Darayya,” organisers said in a statement on Facebook.

The event comes as contributions to a charity fund set up in Jo Cox’s honour reaches £838,000 with more than 26,000 people making donations.

The organisers said cited a line from Cox’s maiden speech in the House of Commons – “We are far more united and have far more in common than that which divides us” – as inspiration for the commemoration, which is called More in Common.

In a statement they said the events are being in organised in collaboration with Cox’s family, who yesterday paid a moving tribute to the MP and campaigner for refugees. MPs from across all parties will gather in the Commons this afternoon to provide their own memories of their colleague and to honour Cox.

“Jo believed that there is more that unites us than divides us, and she was killed for those beliefs. She believed in a love that is fierce, brave and humble. Her death has devastated a family, and attacked the ideals that we as a nation most cherish”, the organisers of Wednesday’s event wrote on Facebook.

“But we will not be divided. We will rise up together to carry Jo’s message forward. We will meet hate with love.

“On the day Jo would have been 42, we are asking everyone, everywhere to love like Jo loved.

“Jo’s legacy is a direct challenge to everyone here, to take part, speak up and be a voice for the voiceless, to treat even those we disagree with with tolerance and genuine respect.

“Let’s honour Jo on Wednesday by carrying forward the message that she now symbolises around the world – that we have #moreincommon than that which divides us.”