Listening, watching and speaking out:
Acting in solidarity with migrants and asylum seekers
The unfolding chaotic and distressing situation in Europe
largely stems from the dominance and longevity of government policies
focused on securitisation aimed at deterring migrants and asylum seekers from
entering.
This continues to lead to untold human suffering
and many deaths.
In recent weeks migrants and asylum seekers have protested
and marched in Europe standing up for their rights and demanding humane
treatment.
“If we
could go anywhere else we would, but we have family in... I need to be with
them”
“Why are they making me risk my life
to be with my family when I know I should get asylum if I get there?”
“Freedom, freedom, we
want peace.”
“Stopped waiting,
started walking”
“We walk, we walk…. We
make our own decisions, not wait for solutions”
“We are people too”
People begun to listen and a movement of solidarity has begun
offering a ‘welcome’, transport, voluntary assistance and a place in their
homes.
There have been petitions and demonstrations in solidarity
in Europe, around the world and online calling to:
save lives, protect people, change mindsets, recognise ‘our
common humanity’,
open borders, ‘welcome refugees’; recognise the contributions
and labour demand for migrants and refugees; take a stand for ‘what type of community,
society we want to be’; an end to policies that separate families and to put a
‘heart’ back into policy making.
They have also made visible EU states complicity in the
creation of many of the ‘root causes’ for peoples movement for protection and
better livelihoods that means that they particularly have a responsibility to
act.
Now is the time to unite and continue the call for human rights-based migration policies with decriminalisation and safe and legal routes for migrants and asylum seekers.
Join the people’s
movement – Stand up for all migrants! Act in solidarity with them!
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