07.10.2015

Open letter to Hackney Gazette from Hackney Stand Up to Racism, co-signed by Jean Lambert and others.

Solidarity with Calais refugees and migrants

The Tories, along with their friends in much of the media, have done their utmost to dehumanise the tens of thousands of refugees fleeing war and desperate poverty in the Middle East and north Africa. They have focused their venom particularly on the 3,000 refugees camping out in terrible conditions in Calais.

They have claimed that Europe would not be able to protect its “standard of living and social infrastructure” if it had to absorb millions of refugees. These comments are astonishing given the impact that Tory austerity has had on the living standards of millions of people in the UK over the past five years. The Tories’ economic policies pose a far greater threat to the population’s standard of living than refugees seeking safety here.

We call on anti-racists, trade unionists, politicians, students and faith and community groups in Hackney to stand in opposition to the dehumanisation and scapegoating of those fleeing wars, famine and repression. Support the convoys taking much-needed items to Calais, and take part in local activities welcoming migrants and refugees to our borough.

See the full list of signatories here.