Boaz Trust has joined with some 200 other refugee organisations, charities, trade unions and more in signing an open letter to party leaders earlier this week, condemning the anti-refugee protests that took place at the weekend and the ‘pernicious and insidious currents of racism and hatred’ underlying them.
The letter, which was organised by the Together With Refugees coalition (which Boaz Trust is a part of), calls on party leaders to end the ‘divisive politics, racist rhetoric and demonising language.’ It goes on to say that only by doing so will we bring ‘unity instead of division’ and ‘cohesion rather than hate.’
You can read the open letter in full below:
Dear Party Leaders,
Anti-refugee protests across the country have been distressing to witness, with echoes of last summer’s riots making them all the more alarming.
Many of the people targeted have already suffered unimaginably, having fled for their lives from countries such as Afghanistan, Eritrea, Iran, Sudan and Syria. Now, due to unacceptable delays and a broken system, they are housed in hotels, a collective target of hostility, banned from working, with limited control over their lives or futures. Believing they will at last be safe and protected, they are then faced with further persecution and fear.
It is clear that major action is needed. It is time for you, our leaders, to take a strong and united stand. The pernicious and insidious currents of racism and hatred underlying these protests are glaring evidence of a failing system. The responsibility to end the divisive politics, racist rhetoric and demonising language of the past is yours. Only then will you bring unity instead of division and cohesion rather than hate.
For those who need our compassion to be confronted with further torment here in the UK is shocking. But the outpouring of support from communities condemning the hatred is a powerful reminder that these views do not represent the vast majority. Today we stand in solidarity with those targeted, because this is what represents our country, this is who we are.
