Take action against the Nationality and Borders Bill - join the protests and complete the online actions

 

We are campaigning against the Nationality and Borders Bill which if passed, could create a new Windrush Scandal on an even larger scale.  Given that the Windrush Lessons Learns recommendations have not been implemented since publication almost two years ago, it is clear that the government do not plan to learn lessons as they are intent on new legislation which further reduces and breaches the human rights of  migrant communities and their descendants and families  and those seeking asylum for those who are displaced, fleeing the impacts of climate change, conflict, persecution and poverty. 

We oppose many aspects of the bill, including the impact on refugees on small boats trying to get to the UK, reducing their rights and access to asylum, push back of small boats into the sea breaching human rights and maritime laws, removing support from survivors of human trafficking and stripping citizenship from people, including those born in the UK but with a parent born abroad.

These are just some of the draconian and racist aspects of the bill which  if passed would create another Windrush Scandal on a much larger scale and breach a range of international human rights laws.

The measures the government wish to introduce will disproportionately impact on black and brown people.

We are actively campaigning to oppose the bill and working in coalition of various groups to do this.

Firstly we are co-founders of the Citizenship is a Right coalition which brings together a range of civil society and race equality groups  in opposition to the bill.

 

Here are some actions you can take:

1. The bill is currently being debated in the House of Lords and so we are lobbying members of the Lords around various amendments including Clause 9 which relates to the stripping of citizenship. We have held one protest outside parliament recently and we are mobilising for another protest to take place on Sunday 27th of February at 12 noon, assembling at the Home Office in Marsham Street, SW1P 4DF  and marching to Parliament Square.  Nearest tube stations are St James Park, Victoria and Westminster. 

If you are able to, we would appreciate you joining us on the day.

2. We also encourage you to write to your local MP to ask them to take action against the bill when it comes back to the House of Commons. Plus your local councillors and candidates in forthcoming elections. 

You can contact your local representatives via www.writetothem.com  which will  provide you will a template to write to your MP, Assembly members and local councillors and also provides details of how to write to a member of the House of Lords.

3. We are also supporting and speaking at a demo called by Another Europe Is Possible to coincide with the return from recess for parliament  on Monday 21st of February at 5.30pm, more details here: https://www.facebook.com/events/524500899048750

We are  co-signatories of a letter and petition led by After Exploitation which is in opposition to part 5 of the bill which seeks to reduce support for survivors of human trafficking and modern day slavery: 

Read the letter here; https://afterexploitation.com/open-letter-scrap-part-5-to-protect-survivors-of-modern-slavery/

4. Join the e-action and right to your MP here using the template letter - you just need your postcode: http://afterexploitation.eaction.org.uk/scraptheplan

We are using the hashtags: #citizenshipisaright #killthebills #refugeeswelcome 

You can follow the campaign and keep up to date with action  as follows:

Facebook    Citizenship is a Right

Twitter and Instagram   @citizenshipIAR

 

Together we can fight the attacks on our civil liberties and human rights proposed in this bill. 

Thank you for your support. 

 Zita Holbourne

National Chair, on behalf of: 

 BARAC UK 

 

artwork copyright Zita Holbourne; Poet~Artist~Activist 

Press Release; National Windrush Day of Action to take place on 23rd February 2019 (marking UN World Social Justice Day)

PRESS RELEASE;  WINDRUSH NATIONAL DAY OF ACTION

Immediate Release

From; BAME Lawyers 4 Justice incorporating Black Activists Rising Against Cuts (BARAC) UK, Blaksox, Operation Black Vote, (OBV), Society of Black Lawyers, (SBL), Momentum Black Caucus, Windrush Action Groups; Nottingham, Birmingham, Manchester, Leeds, London


The second BAME Lawyers 4 Justice national Windrush conference was held today Sat 17th November 2018 at Nottingham University. 

Over 200 people representing black
communities from England and Wales, gathered to discuss supporting the victims of Theresa May's ‘hostile environment’, demanding among other things, a public inquiry into the Windrush scandal, churches to organise Windrush Sundays, promoting the national petition calling on Government to impose no cap or limit on financial compensation for victims and announcing a Windrush National Day of Action, to be held on Sat 23rd February 2019 on the United Nations World Day for Social Justice.

Five of Britain’s major black cities, represented by local Windrush Action Groups, all committed to taking part in the day, London, Manchester, Nottingham, Leeds and Birmingham have already committed to organise simultaneous actions in each of these cities. More are urged to join the action.


Chair of the conference Mr David Weaver and Operation Black Vote trustee said;

“ The government needs to recognise the anger, tragedy and despair caused by this unprecedented and gross violation of British Black British citizens human rights.

This conference  puts the government on notice that victims will not be silenced or intimidated by the racism they’ve faced, on the contrary both Windrush victims and the county at large are rightly appalled at the treatment they’ve been forced to endure. This conference reaffirms the demand for no cap or limit on the compensation to victims and the urgent need to reform immigration legislation to ensure this never happens again.”


Desmond Jaddoo of Birmingham stated;

“The time has come to stand up and be counted. The hostile environment towards the African Caribbean community has been an ongoing part of British life for a number of years, in fact since the docking of the Empire Windrush on 22nd June 1948.

We are affected by every form of disproportionality that anyone can think off.

The treatment of the Windrush generation only epitomises the racist behaviour that our elders have been subjected to for a number of years.

We now need to send a clear message that we are here to stay, we have contributed and we are no longer putting up any form of this type of Systemic racism any longer.”

Zita Holbourne Chair of Black Activists Rising Against The Cuts (BARAC) UK, one of the key note speakers at the conference stated;

“The horrific injustice and racism experienced by multiple generations not just Windrush must be addressed but also there has to be real action taken to prevent further cases. There are already 11 reported deaths of those deported plus others who have died in the UK. Some faced with what can only be described as hell on earth have sadly taken their own lives.

The criminalisation of whole communities in this way demonstrates racist intent but the conditions forced upon people, targeted, detained, restrained, ejected from the country and made destitute and isolated, is an abuse of human rights. We call upon everyone who cares about justice, equality and human rights to stand with us and support A national Day of Action for Windrush Justice  and the call by my trade union PCS  for a Public Inquiry  ”

Jaqueline McKenzie, leading Windrush solicitor stated;

“Windrush Action Group is one of the many voices that have emerged to advocate for justice for the victims of the scandal and is led by victims with a membership of about 400 persons.

Both of today's events are important as we put the Windrush scandal within the context of the wider experiences of racism which continues to emanate from so many organisations and institutions and now with the rise of the far right, with increasing sections of society. The Windrush scandal is a major one and is as offensive as it is devastating to that generation of people who gave so much to the UK including to the families of those who have died or were deported.

But we must be vigilant because there are other equally disgraceful practices in the immigration rules and policies which includes the continued deportation of people to countries they don't know, the forced warehousing of people in hostile detention centres without time limits, the continued separation of families through onerous English language and fee requirements, the detention of non visa national holiday makers for spurious reasons, the exorbitant profit making fees and surcharges which increase yearly and the discriminatory treatment of children born in the UK to non British parents who remain undocumented.”

Lee Jasper, A Blaksox sponsor and national press officer of Momentum Black Caucus and one of the key note speakers at the conference said;

“ The illegal deportation of British Black citizens, over decades by the British State represents a most vile defilement of the citizenship rights of a people, Windrush generation, who helped rebuild this country from the ground up. The social contract between the British state and Black British citizens has been broken, smashed on the rocks of institutional racism and blind indifference.

Theresa May’s “hostile climate” is in fact the delivery of long a cherished fascist demand thought unthinkable. From Mosley , the National Front, the BNP and of late, the white neo fascist terrorist organisation, National Action, all of whom dreamed of a day when they would see the forced repatriation of British black and brown people. That day is here, that time is now, and today’s conference calls for an unprecedented action to secure justice for Windrush victims and secure black human rights and citizenship. We are not asking for justice, we intend to secure our unable rights by any means necessary.” 

Ends

Contact:

Lee Jasper;  Tel. 07984 181797 
Email; lee-jasper@live.com

David Weaver; Tel. 07983 592988

Zita Holbourne; Tel. 07711861660
Email; barac.info@gmail.com

Pastor Clive Foster; Tel. 07881 656399