Rainbow flags took over the streets of Peckham last week Saturday as people marched for in support of migrants in the UK.
The march was organised by Lesbians and Gay support the migrants, South East London Sisters Uncut and Movement for Justice to celebrate the significance of diverse, local communities and to welcome immigrants, in this time which immigrants seem to receive so much backlash from Alt-Right and Neo-Conservative groups over the UK and USA.
A lively and colourful drumming band made music as hundreds of people walked down Peckham high street to protest the UK government's immigration regime that is currently harming many, already-vulnerable people. Protestors chanted "fight back" and "open the borders." The protest ended at a bar in Peckham with performances put on by local LGBT artists.
Antonia Bright from Movement for Justice said:
“Peckham is a place where people have stood up and stopped immigration raids, preventing border agency thugs from snatching colleagues, neighbours and friends. We are facing the biggest ever anti-immigrant attack in the form of Brexit, which must be stopped. We’re marching through Peckham to build the mass movement needed to defend our community and collectively resist racist attacks.”
Being part of a local demonstration for such a good cause like this and seeing how supportive the community is definitely uplifting. Mass deportations create a hostile environment and are an attack to such close-knit, loving communities.
Rosanna from South East London Sisters Uncut said:
“Many migrant women fleeing domestic violence have no access to public services or risk facing detention or deportation in trying to access help. Most of the support services destroyed by austerity were specialist services for African, Caribbean and Asian communities, and LGBT+ people. In the post-Brexit climate, not only do survivors stand to lose the already restricted access they have to professional support services, but now migrant sisters, LGBT+ people and sisters of colour are more likely to face violence from individuals and the state. This is a result of the racist, xenophobic and islamophobic discourse that has taken a stranglehold over our country.”
Mass deportations aren't protecting us UK citizens but are in fact creative an unsecure atmosphere. Undocumented women cannot escape abusive relationships because they're required to report to the police but in a time immigrants are viewed as criminals themselves how could they? Every single human being deserves a safe home, no matter if they're documented or not.
Peckham pride demonstrated an enormous amount of solidarity and support for most marginalised members of our community and seeing so many people from little children with 'No Racist Deportations' posters to the elderly members of the community participate really does inspire hope.
