MEMBERS of the Stroud community will be protesting tomorrow while one of the UK's most controversial journalists is set to appear at an event. 

An open letter initiated by Community Solidarity Stroud District is calling on organisers to withdraw their invitation to Katie Hopkins to present a comedy show in Stroud has been signed by over 225 people at time of writing, on Wednesday afternoon (September 6). 

The landlord of the original venue - The Old Convent - told the group he was not aware the original booking was for Katie Hopkins and that now he is aware the event will not take place there.

However, it appears the event will go ahead, with Katie Hopkins’ website saying the venue is “to be announced” on Thursday, September 7 - the day the event is due to take place.

A Community Solidarity Stroud District spokesperson said: “Despite rumours to the contrary the Katie Hopkins event is most definitely not cancelled.

“We will meet to hold our protest rally, with speakers and PA as planned at the foot of the hill car park - opposite Merrywalks bus station.

“If we find out more about where the show is going to be held, we may revise this.

"If we don’t find out where the event will be, we will old our own event discussing the issues raised." 

Community Solidarity Stroud District are inviting people to meet in The Old Convent Car Park when they can between 6 and 10pm on Thursday, September 7.  

James Beecher, a member of Community Solidarity Stroud District, said: "We don’t think someone with her record should have been invited to Stroud – and are pleased to see the community coming together to make this clear.

"We’re using our free speech to challenge the things Katie Hopkins says.

"We want to be absolutely clear that Katie Hopkins record speaks for itself and that she is no more welcome in Stroud than she was in South Africa.”

Emma Calcutt, from Stroud Against Racism said: “Katie Hopkins is not welcome in our community and we encourage members to peacefully picket this event and make our message clear that this kind of event has no place in our town.”

Steve Lydon, Chair of Stroud Constituency Labour Party said: “We as the Labour Party are proud to stand with other members of the community to show our abhorrence of the views of Katie Hopkins.

"She is not welcome here."

The open letter can be found at - tinyurl.com/z2nrayyc