Dear Supporters
With less than 24 hours notice, people came from around the UK to a packed out emergency meeting in Parliament on Wednesday evening to discuss Windrush compensation, deportation flights and detention centres. It was hosted by the shadow Home Secretary Diane Abbott and speakers included myself for BARAC UK, Antonia Bright for Movement for Justice, immigration lawyer Jacqueline McKenzie, Bella Sankey for Detention Action and Shadow Immigration Minister, Bell Ribeiro-Addy MP. There were several other MPs in attendance and a range of campaigners, activists and community members. There will be a report coming out on the meeting but there was a commitment that going forward we need to all stand together, with a strong national campaign on the interlinked issues of inhumane conditions and treatment in detention centres and of mass deportations by charter flights and Windrush injustice, the publication of and action to implement the recommendations in the Windrush lessons learned report and on the fact that the vast majority of families impacted by the Windrush scandal have not been compensated.
On Tuesday a Nigerian woman who is a rape survivor, who had been held at Yarlswood detention centre was found by the courts to be not guilty of assaulting guards.
Astonishingly a case was brought against her for assault when in fact all the evidence showed and the judge pointed out clearly that in fact the guards had assaulted the woman, throwing her to the ground, covering her head, failing to acknowledge her distress and assaulting her so she sustained multiple injuries.
There is more info here;
https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.theguardian.com/uk-news/2020/feb/11/woman-cleared-of-assaulting-yarls-wood-guards-during-struggle
The impact of deportations is not just devastating and traumatizing for those who are deported but for their families who they are suddenly and brutally torn apart from.
I had a heartbreaking conversation with one woman whose partner was deported on Tuesday's flight who she has has three young children with told me;
"My children and I can't cope with any more emotional distress. We have been through a whole lot over the past 4 years as a family and it’s going to be very, very hard after 10 years together with my partner for myself and obviously all the kids. They haven't been able to attend school because they are just too emotional especially our 8 year old, who is worried about her dad and asking if he will have anything to eat or find somewhere to sleep, she has sudden and frequent outbursts of crying . I haven’t been able to sleep properly, I’ve had two hours of sleep in total since Monday. Now that we live in different time zones speaking to each other will be very hard. I have received support from social workers, my doctor and my daughter's school so far, they’ve referred her to music therapy which I hope helps. The future is going to be very very hard"
Another woman told me that her partner was the main earner, as they have 3 young children she doesn't work currently but has worked all her life before having their children. Because of her partner being detained she has been struggling to make ends meet and for the first time had to make a claim for benefits this week.
For others the partner detained or now deported was the primary carer and they are the main earner but they now cannot afford private childcare and they are struggling to balance childcare and work.
Parents impacted have told me their children are wetting the bed, they are unable to focus at school and for one child, their hair is falling out. The children are both missing their dads bit afraid of what is going to happen to them.
One man was interviewed by the BBC here from Jamaica. They lost his clothes and papers so he only has the clothes on his back.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-51481701/jamaica-deportation-i-m-numb-hurt-wounded
Another man deported has been with his partner for 14 years and they have two children, he says: "I feel I have been punished twice."
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-51497358
I have shared updates a year ago about the plight of a young man, Chevon Brown. He was deported on the charter flight in 2019 for a driving offence which he had already served his time for, ripped apart from his dad and brothers in his home of Oxford, now having to live with strangers in Jamaica. Because of the negative media headlines about those deported he says it is very difficult to get a job as businesses don't want to employ people with British accents.
Thank you for taking the time to read this update and for your support for our campaign against charter flight deportations.
Regards
Zita