Today marks National Windrush Day, the 72nd anniversary of the SS Empire Windrush arriving at Tilbury Docks in Essex carrying the first Caribbean migrants. It marked a seminal moment in Britain’s history and has come to stand for the rich diversity of this nation.
Many of those who left sunnier climes were ex-servicemen who fought with the UK in the Second World War and had answered the British Government's call to help rebuild post war damaged Britain Their hard work and skills would help bolster the economy, fill labour shortages and help establish our National Health Service.Their descendants have continued to enrich social, economic, political and religious life. It is estimated that around 500,000 people living in the UK are part of the Windrush Generation, who arrived between 1948 and 1971.
Windrush Day was established as a celebration to honour the enormous contribution those who made that journey, and others who followed from elsewhere - have made to Britain. Many encountered overt racism, discrimination, and rejection. The climate of Britain was not ready to embrace anyone who was different. "The Other" This was the era of "Sorry no coloured, No Irish, or dogs" The harrowing stories of being spat at, excluded from the mainstream, not accepted, not wanted, laughed at physically and emotionally abused. The stories told are horrific.Yet, despite all this they persevered. Many were granted the right to settle in the UK by the British Nationality Act 1948. Those legal rights meant that those migrated neither needed, nor were given documents upon entry to the UK.
The annual event was established in 2018 in the wake the Windrush scandal when many of those invited to Britain suddenly found themselves on the wrong side of immigration laws that, unbeknown to them, had changed around them.
We should not forget the infamous words uttered by Theresa May, who as home secretary in 2012 said “The aim is to create, here in Britain, a really hostile environment for illegal immigrants.”
Under racist immigration polices introduced by Theresa May then and in 2014, many of the children of the Windrush migrants found themselves hounded by the government. Further changes to already racist immigration laws in 2012 and 2014 meant migrants could be forced to prove they have the right to be here.
This "hostile" immigration policy devised by Theresa May during her time as Home Secretary has been regarded as "almost like Nazi Germany" by some ministers.
Although
many people had lived and worked in Britain for most of their lives,
law changes required them to have official documents to have access to
healthcare.
Some
people who had lost their official documents or were unable to provide
them were sent to immigration detention centres. At least 83 people were
wrongfully deported.
The
scandal led to the resignation of then-Home Secretary Amber Rudd, and
prompted a wider debate about British immigration and deportation
policy.The Government was forced to apologise and give compensation to those whose
lives were affected. Despite the scheme being launched two years ago, only 5% of the many people who have submitted claims have been paid compensation.This country owes a huge debt to the Windrush generation. The injustices that the Windrush generation and their families have faced have not gone away, as they struggle to secure their status and access the compensation they deserve. The Home Office must stop furthering the pain of victims of the Windrush scandal. If the Government were sincere in their apology, it’s time for the hostile environment to come to an end and they compensate victims fairly.Please sign the following petitions
:- https://www.change.org/p/uk-govt-fix-the-windrush-compensation-scheme-now/psf/promote_or_share
https://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/windrush-never-again
https://act.globaljustice.org.uk/home-office-stop-hostile-environment-all-immigrants?utm_medium=email&utm_source=mailchimp_2006WIN&utm_campaign=Migration_campaign#
No matter who you are or where you are, there are lots of ways to mark Windrush Day, even in lockdown, by watching, reading and educating yourself through informative and accessible events taking place online. Many places began their days of celebration with the ‘Windrush song’ – ‘London is the Place for Me’ by Lord Kitchener – at 10.27am – in reference to 1,027 passengers aboard the Windrush when it docked at Tilbury.
This year, the NHS in particular is leading the charge in Windrush celebration, marking the contribution of staff from more than 200 nationalities who have played a critical part in the shaping of the health service, and remain a crucial part of its workforce today.
Here's some other ways you can get involved this year:
The Black Cultural Archives will be celebrating the heroes of the Windrush Generation with live poetry.Between 7pm and 8pm, they will be live on their Instagram page in partnership with youth charity Poetic Unity.
Residents living in Lambeth, London, are being invited to sing Desmond Dekker's song ‘You Can Get It If You Really Want’ on their door steps on June 22 as a socially distanced way to mark the day with others.
A Windrush art and activity pack is also available for locals, and has been created by a Brixton-based artist, Carolyne Hill.
Even if you don't live in the area, you can always sing the song in your home as a sign of support.
There is also an online screening of the documentary “Daughter of the Windrush” from Blackburne house, working with the Museum of Liverpool – which examines stories told by daughters and granddaughters of Liverpool’s Windrush Generation.
Another Black Cultural Archives (BCA) collaboration, ‘Fresh Off the Boat’ is a series of eight radio plays produced by Decolonising the Archives that explore Windrush legacies by drawing from the BCA collections. The plays will be released over eight days from Monday June 22. Find out more here.
The poetry Society will also be sharing poems by poets throughout the day. https://twitter.com/poetrysociety
And events will also being taking place across Wales to honour the Windrush generation and their contribution to Welsh life https://gov.wales/windrush-generation-honoured-through-welsh-celebrations
Lets show our gratitude and respect to the people of Windrush, who did nothing wrong and did not deserve the treatment experienced. Their legacy lives on.
