PCS signs open letter vowing to stand Together With Refugees

More than 200 refugee organisations, charities, trade unions and campaign groups have signed an open letter to party leaders today condemning anti-refugee protests that took place across the weekend. 

The letter, coordinated by campaign coalition Together With Refugees, has been signed by PCS and 212 other organisations including Amnesty International UK, Care for Calais, Doctors of the World, End Violence Against Women Coalition, Freedom from Torture, Islamic Relief, Oxfam, Refugee Action, Safe Passage, Scottish Refugee Council, Welsh Refugee Council and Women for Refugee Women.

The letter says: “Anti-refugee protests across the country have been distressing to witness, with echoes of last summer’s riots making them all the more alarming.”

Divisive politics

Addressed to political party leaders, the letter goes on to say: “The pernicious and insidious currents of racism and hatred underlying these protests are glaring evidence of a failing system. The responsibility to end the divisive politics, racist rhetoric and demonising language of the past is yours. Only then will you bring unity instead of division and cohesion rather than hate.”

Needing compassion

It concludes: “For those who need our compassion to be confronted with further torment here in the UK is shocking.  But the outpouring of support from communities condemning the hatred is a powerful reminder that these views do not represent the vast majority.  Today we stand in solidarity with those targeted, because this is what represents our country, this is who we are.”

Together With Refugees is the largest pro-refugee coalition in British history with more than 600 member organisations, from grassroots and refugee-led groups to international development charities and trade unions. With 80% of the British public wanting an approach to the asylum system that is well managed, fair and compassionate, the coalition is calling for a fair new plan for refugees. It wants a plan that upholds the UK’s commitment under international law to the right to claim asylum, provides a proper strategy for welcoming refugees, and forges stronger global cooperation to tackle the root causes that force people to flee their homes and countries.