STOP WEAPONIZING BLACK WOMEN AS AN ACT OF POLITICAL POINT-SCORING
STOP WEAPONIZING BLACK WOMEN AS AN ACT OF POLITICAL POINT-SCORING
The Issue
rwandahttps://www.theguardian.com/politics/2023/aug/08/target-of-tory-lefty-lawyer-dossier-forced-to-review-security-after-email
WE STAND WITH JACQUELINE McKENZIE
JACQUELINE McKENZIE, the immigration lawyer based in the United Kingdom, known for her relentless advocacy on behalf of the Windrush Generation, is currently facing unprecedented attacks from Suella Braverman, the Conservative Campaign HQ, and the British government. These attacks aim to undermine her professional role as a lawyer and have even put her personal safety at risk.
We, a collective of 100 professional Black and Brown women from across the political landscape and working in the worlds of media, education, health, healing, art, academia and business, stand unequivocally against this assault. It is not only an attack on Ms. McKenzie’s work, but also an affront to her humanity, our democratic principles, and the concept of equality as a whole.
We understand that the Home Office under Braverman’s leadership and the Conservative Campaign HQ circulated a briefing to journalists that contained baseless allegations and distorted information about Ms. McKenzie’s work. The intent behind this agenda was unmistakable: to single her out for hostile media and public attention. We categorically condemn this despicable smear campaign, and this act of aggression against a Black woman in the name of political point-scoring.
The demonisation of a lawyer for performing their professional duties raises serious questions about the values upheld by this government. When this lawyer happens to be a high-profile, widely respected Black woman, who has spent much of her career representing Windrush victims, individuals who were upended by a crisis that emerged from this government’s own actions, the implications are crystal clear. We cannot allow Braverman’s actions to stand unchallenged; they must be met with the strongest possible response.
We make this statement out of genuine concern over the erosion of values in public discourse, which now permit elected government officials to not only endorse, but to also propagate threats against individuals. This act transcends the dimensions of politics; it is about a person’s life, well-being, safety, humanity, and trauma.
We stand shoulder to shoulder, in unity beside our sister. We want to emphasize that Braverman’s words constitute an act of violence, and the British government, by clearly endorsing these words, is knowingly and willingly empowering an already vicious and vociferous right-wing mob to spew violence against a Black woman.
In today’s climate, where domestic racial terrorism is casually wielded in the UK and globally to score political points, little regard is shown for the real-life consequences suffered by those who become targets of this hate, masquerading as political speech. This not only endangers the individuals’ lives, but also the lives of their families. What Suella Braverman’s words amount to is emotional terrorism, inflicting trauma on a Black woman’s life.
Jacqueline McKenzie does not stand alone. We join forces with the legal community, human rights advocates, defenders of democracy and proponents of the rule of law. This statement is one of unwavering solidarity as a sisterhood of Black and Brown women, standing firmly behind and beside Jacqueline McKenzie.
WE STAND WITH JACQUELINE McKENZIE.
#WeStandWithJacquelineMcKenzie
9,111
The Issue
rwandahttps://www.theguardian.com/politics/2023/aug/08/target-of-tory-lefty-lawyer-dossier-forced-to-review-security-after-email
WE STAND WITH JACQUELINE McKENZIE
JACQUELINE McKENZIE, the immigration lawyer based in the United Kingdom, known for her relentless advocacy on behalf of the Windrush Generation, is currently facing unprecedented attacks from Suella Braverman, the Conservative Campaign HQ, and the British government. These attacks aim to undermine her professional role as a lawyer and have even put her personal safety at risk.
We, a collective of 100 professional Black and Brown women from across the political landscape and working in the worlds of media, education, health, healing, art, academia and business, stand unequivocally against this assault. It is not only an attack on Ms. McKenzie’s work, but also an affront to her humanity, our democratic principles, and the concept of equality as a whole.
We understand that the Home Office under Braverman’s leadership and the Conservative Campaign HQ circulated a briefing to journalists that contained baseless allegations and distorted information about Ms. McKenzie’s work. The intent behind this agenda was unmistakable: to single her out for hostile media and public attention. We categorically condemn this despicable smear campaign, and this act of aggression against a Black woman in the name of political point-scoring.
The demonisation of a lawyer for performing their professional duties raises serious questions about the values upheld by this government. When this lawyer happens to be a high-profile, widely respected Black woman, who has spent much of her career representing Windrush victims, individuals who were upended by a crisis that emerged from this government’s own actions, the implications are crystal clear. We cannot allow Braverman’s actions to stand unchallenged; they must be met with the strongest possible response.
We make this statement out of genuine concern over the erosion of values in public discourse, which now permit elected government officials to not only endorse, but to also propagate threats against individuals. This act transcends the dimensions of politics; it is about a person’s life, well-being, safety, humanity, and trauma.
We stand shoulder to shoulder, in unity beside our sister. We want to emphasize that Braverman’s words constitute an act of violence, and the British government, by clearly endorsing these words, is knowingly and willingly empowering an already vicious and vociferous right-wing mob to spew violence against a Black woman.
In today’s climate, where domestic racial terrorism is casually wielded in the UK and globally to score political points, little regard is shown for the real-life consequences suffered by those who become targets of this hate, masquerading as political speech. This not only endangers the individuals’ lives, but also the lives of their families. What Suella Braverman’s words amount to is emotional terrorism, inflicting trauma on a Black woman’s life.
Jacqueline McKenzie does not stand alone. We join forces with the legal community, human rights advocates, defenders of democracy and proponents of the rule of law. This statement is one of unwavering solidarity as a sisterhood of Black and Brown women, standing firmly behind and beside Jacqueline McKenzie.
WE STAND WITH JACQUELINE McKENZIE.
#WeStandWithJacquelineMcKenzie
9,111
Petition created on August 16, 2023