Stafford protest on behalf of refugees for UN Anti-Racist Day
People united to send messages protesting against two pieces of legislation being introduced by the Government, which they say are racist.
A flash mob took place in Stafford over the weekend as part of the United Nations Anti-Racism Day of action on March 21.
On Saturday, March 19 people united in the Market Square to send messages protesting against two pieces of legislation being introduced by the Government, which they say are racist.
These are:
- The Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act recently passed, which they point out directly targets and criminalises the Gypsy Roma Traveller community and makes it a potential offence for anyone to protests against injustice.
The Nationality and Borders Bill currently being read in the House of Lords, which they say could directly target and criminalise refugees, such as those fleeing the Ukraine, and makes it a potential offence to offer them aid at sea such as the RNLI lifeboat service. In addition they raise the alarm that the act empowers the Home Secretary to remove the citizenship of anyone without trial or appeal. They want parliament to accept an amendment to the bill, from Lord Dubs in the House of Lords, to allow unaccompanied refugee children to be united with their relatives in Britain.
12 people of varied ages, backgrounds and walks of life were part of the protest. They chanted ‘say it loud and say it clear, refugees are welcome here’ as well as ‘we do not want racism here!’.
Flash mob participant Netta Cartwrigh said: “At this time so many people, such as Ukrainian refugees, are in need of help and support in these challenging times.
“Neither they nor UK citizens need the kind of persecution, oppression and criminalisation that is currently experienced in Russia, Afghanistan, Syria and other countries.”
Damon Hoppe, a spokesperson from Stafford Campaign against Racism and Fascism (SCARF), added: “Stafford is a decent town, where people care about their communities and welcome refugees like those from the Ukraine.
“This protest demonstrates that we and many other Stafford people refuse to live in a divided and racist society.”
He added that many people across the world and in Britain, united over the weekend to express their concern about the rising tide of racist and fascist far right groups and policies here and abroad.
People wishing to join the campaign can contact the Stafford Campaign Against Racism and Fascism at scarf-stafford@protonmail.com.
