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Manchester comes together in ght against racism and injustice against Windrush migrants
MANCHESTER RESIDENTS stood shoulder to shoulder when they marched through the city recently in a bid to demand a ‘Windrush Act of Parliament.’
On July 7 the peaceful protestors, Windrush Crusade, took their demonstration from the gates of the West Indian Sports and Social Club in Moss Side to Piccadilly Gardens in the city centre.
Their demands are for ‘an Act to repair the damage to community cohesion caused by the Windrush scandal.’ Led by Anthony Brown of The Law Center and resident Lorna Downer, this is the first in what they hope will be a series of protests and have made a call to the community at large to ‘stand
with us’.
“The ‘Windrush Act’ is about more than just individual compensation. The effect of the Act will be to take positive action to address the disparities highlighted by the Government’s Race Equality Audit commissioned by Theresa May,” said Anthony.
I think the whole world should be aware of this and that’s why today is so important.
Tina Tamsho-Thomas, from Didsbury,
I make reference to the letter from Gus John to Theresa May. He was invited to the official Windrush celebration and wrote to her directly saying he was surprised at being asked when you take into account the current Windrush scandal. His diplomacy, directness and sense of injustice was admirable.
Evan Pritchard, from Longsight,
It exposes the racist nature of the way that the government and the State treats immigrants. The immigration rules are extremely racist and discriminatory. This issue reflects the way that the people who control this society do not value people from other countries, particularly people with black skin. They seek to treat them as second-class citizens, if not worse. It’s an appalling legacy of the way that Britain has behaved in the world.
It’s absolutely disgusting that in this day and age we are still seeing this kind of behaviour against people who should be British citizens. We are celebrating the 70th aniversary of the NHS but the NHS wouldn’t exist if it wasn’t for the relatively cheap labour provided by medical staff, in particular those from Commonwealth countries. I want to see justice and changes in the law as a matter of priority.
Sam Lynch, from Hulme,
I think it is important to be here today because this was a scandal that affected lots of people’s lives. The damage is hard to quantify but we need to show that this is not okay.
We need to think of the bigger picture and institutional racism in a wider context. In the black community people have been affected by this for a long time and this is yet another example of that.
Martin Hopwood, from Hulme
The Windrush [scandal] wasn’t just an accident. It was part of what Theresa May called a ‘hostile environment’ which involves criminalising or oppressing black people and migrants generally. I wouldn’t say it just started under this government.
Britain has been institutionally racist and discriminatory for quite a while but it has now taken on a new dimension. It will take something really powerful to bring about change and we need to raise
awareness.
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