Dear Supporters
It has been some time since we have been in touch but we haven't stopped campaigning for justice for the Windrush Generation and their descendants, against deportations and the ongoing hostile environment and racist immigration policies destroying lives.
We started this petition in 2018 at the height of the Windrush Scandal but have kept it open because the injustices have not ended and we are still campaigning against them.
This Thursday 22nd of June, is National Windrush Day and also the 75th anniversary of the arrival at Tilbury Docks of the Empire Windrush.
Like many others I will be celebrating and paying homage to the Windrush Generation for all they have achieved and survived but I will also be highlighting the impacts of the Windrush Scandal and the ongoing injustices including dropping some of the Windrush Lessons Learned recommendations and failure to award compensation to the majority of people impacted.
In 2019 we organised the Windrush Day of Action on 22nd June and we called on people to "Demonstrate then Celebrate' with simultaneous direct actions in cities around the UK including a banner drop over Westminster Bridge in London.
The huge banner we created is now archived in the Black Cultural Archives in Brixton, London, together with other materials of the organisation I co-founded and am National Chair of BARAC UK.
It is still important while we honour and celebrate the Windrush Generation to remember all they have and many are still experiencing and continue to campaign together.
I wanted to take this opportunity to pay tribute to the Windrush Generation for their strength, determination, resilience, achievements and contributions and to also remember all those no longer with us - may they rest in freedom and peace.
Many of you will likely have plans to attend Windrush 75 events but I wanted to make you aware of some useful sites to find out more as well as share some specific activities.
I was commissioned to create the artwork attached to this petition update by Voices of Windrush as the official image for the Festival of Windrush.
Here are some links to events and sites with a range of exhibitions, events, publications and activities you can join around the UK in person and virtually including the Festivalof Windrush:
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/expression-of-the-windrush-though-the-arts-tickets-633949208147
https://www.pcs.org.uk/news-events/news/marking-75th-anniversary-windrush
https://www.tuc.org.uk/events/windrush-75-years
https://www.tuc.org.uk/RootsCultureIdentity
https://www.wasafiri.org/windrush-writing-the-scandal/
Thank you for your ongoing support and solidarity.
Best Regards
Zita
Zita Holbourne
National Chair BARAC UK