Published Tuesday, 02 June 2009
Protestant and Catholic clergymen addressed the crowd on Tuesday, before Irish Congress of Trade Unions president Patricia McKeown called for an end to hate crime, following the murder of Kevin McDaid in Coleraine.
"We stood in front of the city hall over recent months for many, many reasons," she said.
She added similar rallies had opposed job losses, violence in the Middle East and dissident republican murders.
"We said there was no going back... but we say today equally, there is no going forward in this society while sectarianism remains unchecked and unchallenged," she said.
Meanwhile, detectives investigating the murder of Kevin McDaid arrested and questioned a 41-year-old man.
The suspect was later released on bail pending further police inquiries.