CAMPAIGNERS WILL mark the first official Windrush Day with demonstrations across the country.
On June 22, protesters will take to the streets in seven cities around the UK for Windrush Day of Action, part of an ongoing campaign to secure justice for members of the Windrush Generation.
The demonstrations, which have been coordinated by BAME Lawyers 4 Justice, will see action start simultaneously at 11am in London, Leeds, Birmingham, Liverpool, Nottingham, Manchester and Derby.
The events will aim to highlight the continued injustices many have suffered as a result of the government's hostile environment policy, one of the main causes of the Windrush scandal, and deportation flights from the UK to the Caribbean.
Many community groups, organisations and local authorities around the UK have celebratory events planned to mark this year’s Windrush Day and the contributions of the Windrush Generation. For some campaigners, the idea of celebrating while the fallout from the scandal continues to play out is difficult.
Zita Holbourne, a founding member of BAME Lawyers 4 Justice and national chair of BARAC, told The Voice that while she believed the contributions of Caribbean people to all aspects of British society and life should be acknowledged it felt “rather insulting” to celebrate in the current climate.
She said: “To those who want to celebrate, we are saying demonstrate then celebrate. You can do both but it is crucial on Windrush Day we send a message to the government that we will not be silent in the face of injustice, we are here, we are strong and we demand justice and change and race equality.”
Holbourne encouraged supporters of the Windrush Generation to join her group’s activities and to also lobby their MPs to expand the Windrush scheme to other generations and all former Commonwealth citizens.
In London, demonstrators will leave from Downing Street, marching to Westminster Bridge for a mass banner drop.
The day of action in Manchester will be led by the Windrush Defenders, who are based at the Windrush Millennium Centre, Moss Side.
Further details of march locations, routes and timings can be found here [2].
Read every story in our hardcopy newspaper for free by downloading the app.