Safe Passage’s statement of solidarity with Black Lives Matter
“Don't kill black people. Our lives matter just as much as anyone else. We are all the same, the only difference is the colour of our skin. It doesn't matter if we are white or black. Stop killing black people.”
These are the words of Alex, who fled Eritrea and was supported by Safe Passage to join his relatives in the UK. Safe Passage exists to support people who have left their homes, their loved ones and their lives behind in order to try and reach a place of safety. But the reality is that systemic racism and violence means that black and brown people are never truly safe.
We recognise that we cannot be an organisation fighting for migrant justice if we are not also an organisation fighting for racial justice. We recognise that we have a responsibility to the young people we support to fight the racism that exists in the UK, Greece, France and in every country where they seek sanctuary.
As an organisation, we talk regularly to young people but those conversations are rarely about racism. Now we are starting to talk about racism - with the young people we work with and within Safe Passage - in a way that should have happened long ago.
From these first conversations we have already learnt so much about what the young people we support think and feel. We stand with them in their calls for justice for George Floyd, and for every person killed by the system that perpetuates inequality and sanctions violence against people of colour. We are committed to making sure that these conversations continue, and that words become actions.
Safe Passage’s Development Manager Maya Alexander shares her thoughts:
“As a black woman, and more importantly a human I have been deeply affected by the unlawful murder of another black person at the hands of police. We have been here before and we are tired. Black people have been murdered for hundreds of years, we have been systematically lynched by injustice, our humanity has been sold, our voices handcuffed, our dreams pinned down with a knee. We have told you countless times that we cannot breathe, found new ways to convince you that black lives matter. We have died waiting to be humanised, kept alive through the streaming of our deaths. And we are still waiting.
“The seeds of systemic racism are watered by the silence of people just watching. To uproot racism and injustice we ALL must dismantle the narrative conscious or unconscious that taught us black and brown skin has less value. We can no longer just watch agreeing that this should never have happened, we know that. We now must do the work to make sure it never happens again. To achieve this, we need you to do more than stand with us. We need you to move with us.”
Along with Alex, whose words open this statement, other Safe Passage Young Leaders wanted to speak out and share their message with the world. Their statements are included in full below.
“In today's society, many people are suffering from experiencing racism. I have experienced racism at least once in my life so I do know what it makes people feel like and let me say that it could also lead people to hate themselves or hate living. TODAY Racism is scorning the resident arabs, and insulting asians, muslims and africans. We SHOULD fight and speak up before people think that judging is okay. It doesn’t matter what religion you believe in or what colour you are or where you come from because at the end WE ARE ALL HUMANS. we SHOULD fight and speak up to have a world free of racism and inequality. IT’S NEVER TOO LATE!”
- Nouran, Safe Passage Young Leader
“I really think they should stop racism and inequality for black people.”
- Laura, Safe Passage Young Leader
“When people raise issues that affect them on a daily basis, they need to be heard and action taken accordingly. The death of George Floyd at the hands of police in America was so hard to watch and heart-breaking, this could happen to me or anybody. It does have an effect on you when you see somebody getting killed on video, God knows how many this happens to that’s not being on video.
“We as people need to start thinking more compassionately, because change starts individually first. We should be more accepting and see people for who they are regardless of the colour of their skin or belief. We should have fair and common sense policies that treat people equally and in a dignified way”.
- Tekle, Safe Passage Young Leader
“These issues have always been there; this is not the first time something like this has happened. We need to remember that. I worry that people are angry now and posting on social media, but for how long? Will people just forget about it soon? We need to go beyond social media posts and have conversations, and for young people like me to have our voice heard.
“Why are the police so violent? This is an issue here in the UK as well as America. They hit and shoot people even when they haven't done anything wrong. This has to stop. Black lives matter.”
- Anas, Safe Passage Young Leader