Earlier this week, I asked for north-west London’s help to get signatures for a petition asking the government to acknowledge that the elderly Windrush community are British (yes, unfortunately there needs to be a petition for this, how ridiculous is that?)
The petition’s goal was to reach 100,000 signatures by October but this goal was achieved in just 6 days!
Initially, there was a low representation from Brent in terms of signatures compared to other parts of London, this has since been completely turned around, helping the petition to reach its goal.
Brent Central
- Before – 37 signatures
- After – 603 signatures
Hampstead and Kilburn
- Before – 25 signatures
- After – 574 signatures
Brent North
- Before – 29 signatures
- After – 313 signatures
What’s being said on social media
I think the general theme here is that the Home Office clearly needs a basic history lesson, if they really think the Windrush community are not British (I can’t believe I’m having to write this, what an insult).
Some of the media, have done a good job in covering this
.@Channel4News thank you for covering the atrocious treatment of Caribbean immigrants by the Home Office. Maybe @BBCNews will catch up soon https://t.co/J8Rpv6UaZB
— Laura #WearAMask #European #FBPE #Facciamorete (@smilinglaura) April 12, 2018
This government has Betrayed its Windrush people
The Home Office are out of control. Their ineptitude in record keeping jeopardises hundreds of our people here in London. Please sign the petition. https://t.co/R5dLuIxvRj
— Pete Broadbent (@petespurs) April 13, 2018
This is just disgusting, they came over and helped build England back up after the war the have paid their taxes and NI, leave them be, give them passports or legal documents to say they are British citizens x
— Angie ‘primordial mum ‘ (@Angiecaakkee) April 13, 2018
My grandad came to UK from Barbados in the Windrush generation. He fought for the Commonwealth in WWII & answered the call to rebuild the mother country. He lived, worked & loved here for the rest of his 73yrs.
If he was alive today, Theresa May would be trying to deport him.— Kerry-Anne Mendoza (@TheMendozaWoman) April 13, 2018
Recent cases of the Home Office stripping rights from post-war Caribbean migrants are simply shocking. Please help get this petition to 100,000 signatures so that can have a debate in Parliament on securing justice for the Windrush Generation. https://t.co/5uaVXW9MTQ
— Caroline Lucas (@CarolineLucas) April 13, 2018
All across the Caribbean, for many, England was the mother country. When she put out the call for nurses and teachers to come help rebuild after the war they came to assist and start new lives. That they should be turfed out after 50 odd years hard work and graft is a disgrace.
— David Harewood (@DavidHarewood) April 12, 2018
They came here as children, attended British schools, worked British jobs and built British lives.
Now thousands of people who arrived in the UK decades ago – in the first wave of Commonwealth immigration in the 50s and 60s – are living with the threat of deportation.
— Channel 4 News (@Channel4News) April 12, 2018
Hey everyone. can we all sign this Amnesty petition for folk who came from the Caribbean (and other places)pre 1971 . the threat of deportation looms. R.T'd up to and above 100k signatures ,otherwise the government won't even look at it. Can everyone RT please? Ta. Len
— Lenny Henry (@LennyHenry) April 13, 2018
“Bloody immigrants! Coming over here 50+ years ago as children with parents who’d been invited over to rebuild our country, working and paying their taxes and contributing to society for over 40 years. It’s a disgrace!” https://t.co/mZ187p4w91
— David Schneider (@davidschneider) April 15, 2018
“Despite living in the UK for more than half a century…immigration officials arrived early on a Sunday morning at his home with a battering ram; he has spent 3 weeks in immigration removal centres”: sickened by these stories of Home Office action.https://t.co/WsBBJap388
— Robert Macfarlane (@RobGMacfarlane) April 15, 2018
In May’s “toxic environment” you can live, work & pay taxes in Britain for over half a century – yet still be denied live-saving NHS care, lose your job & be treated with utter contempt.
Toxic? This is inhumane, vicious & utterly indefensible. https://t.co/pQrM6MZdcW
— Rachel Clarke (@doctor_oxford) April 15, 2018
Is sickening .
Any non English speaking Euro can wander in here with no idea of our culture of history …
Whilst our friends who contribute so much from :NHS ,comedy ,music ,military ,sport ,food , literature etc etc get deported .
This must be stopped— lee (@leesomerset) April 15, 2018
Terrorist are treated better than the Windrush community
https://twitter.com/matthewhwood/status/984703524905914368
But returning jihadis are OK, what has happened to this country #Fail
— Hookie62 (@Hookie62) April 15, 2018
Dishonest Home Office
The last paragraph here is a straight up lie by the Home Office spokesman. They do no such thing, unless you can get your case in the newspapers. https://t.co/7GIBSk3loQ pic.twitter.com/S5Byz9ntld
— Colin Yeo has a book out (@ColinYeo1) April 12, 2018
The people have spoken, now its the governments turn
Reading how Home Office targeting ‘Windrush generation’, those who came from the West Indies to Britain from 1948 in first wave of Commonwealth immigration. Now threatened with deportation despite decades here. Back on air next week. Hope Home Office prepared to explain itself.
— Andrew Neil (@afneil) April 13, 2018
Eagerly waiting for the government response and parliamentary debate to right this wrong now the petition signatures have exceeded 100,000. https://t.co/ZQMFs6Bl7w
— Caroline CC (@caesar_caston) April 15, 2018
Great news: the petition has reached 100,000 – meaning a full debate in Parliament https://t.co/JvJZixLAC2
— Andrew Fisher (@FisherAndrew79) April 15, 2018
So happy to wake up to find this petition over the 100,000 mark. Keep sharing and signing, folks. https://t.co/uzbX7r8jaw
— K8 creating sleeved protective garments for carers (@kate_hammer) April 15, 2018
We did it!! Thank you so much to the 100,000+ people who signed the petition. I will not rest until this wrong is righted. The government must grant an immediate amnesty, change the burden of proof and apologise for this historic and inhumane injustice. https://t.co/ac2Ua2XTGc
— David Lammy (@DavidLammy) April 15, 2018
Now that the goal of the petition has been met, there’s still a long way to go as this will only be discussed in parliament on a small-scale; in order for there to be a full parliament debate, the petition needs 500,000 signatures.
What’s being said in the media (assorted links)
No 10 refuses Caribbean request to discuss children of Windrush
Hounding Commonwealth citizens is no accident. It’s cruelty by design
The Windrush Generation: Fighting to be British
Caribbean immigrants who came to UK decades ago ‘criminalised’ due to ‘hostile’ government policy
4 Church of England bishops want immigration amnesty for ‘Windrush generation’
Why the children of Windrush demand an immigration amnesty
Windrush children: why Commonwealth citizens are being denied immigration status
Immigration Minister: Immigration status of the Windrush generation
