Dear Supporters We are now 46000 strong. Thank you. Last evening I had the honour of reading a tribute poem in the Houses of Parliament, which I wrote & performed originally, at the official UK memorial service for Nelson Mandela. This was the start of many commemorative events marking the Nelson Mandela Centenary, to come over coming weeks. Surrounded by people who stood against apartheid, I was reminded of these wise words by Mandela; "For to be free is not merely to cast off one’s chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others." Being there was also a reminder of the many people who were forced to flee South Africa, politically exiled (several there at the event) , because they stood up for that freedom that Mandela spoke of. Imagine if they were treated like many people being deported today and sent back to incarceration & persecution at best or death at worse. I am really pleased to share the fantastic news with you, that Chris Stephens MP, vice-chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on South Africa and Chair of the Public and Commercial Services Union Parliamentary Group, has agreed to raise concerns and ask some Parliamentary Questions (PQs), about deportations both with regards to our concerns about the role of BA & other airlines in deportations but also the failure of the Home Office to halt deportations in light of the Windrush scandal and failure to answer my FOIs documented in my sister petition here; https://www.change.org/p/theresa-may-mp-stop-all-charter-flight-mass-deportations-to-jamaica-other-commonwealth-countries. Another action you can take us to write to your local MP and ask them to raise concerns also. If you don't know who your MP is you can find them using your postcode and email them from here; https://www.theyworkforyou.com Do let me know about any responses you receive. Best Regards Zita Zita Holbourne National Chair; BARAC UK