Swindon opens its arms to refugees with march in town centre

Swindon Peoples Assembly rally in town centre proves popular with speakers welcoming refugees and migrants to Swindon.

Swindon Peoples Assembly held its Third Annual Refugee and Migrants Welcome March on Saturday 28 July.

The packed event heard from a range of individuals and organisations including: Islamic Cultural Centre, Swindon City of Sanctuary and the Labour Party. The speakers, including Sarah Church, the Swindon South Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for Labour, addressed the crowd at the start of the march.

She said: "Each week hundreds of human beings are drowning in the Mediterranean as they try to flee unimaginable horror. We learn of the Windrush generation, people who came to this country and were central to rebuilding it after the war, treated scandalously by Government.

"We witness the growing demonization of people based on ethnicity and religion. Swindon is a multicultural town, and the town is the richer for it.

"This year it is as important as ever to welcome migrants and refugees and we invite all parts of the Swindon community to come together as one to celebrate the diversity of our community and to show our opposition to the “hostile environment” policy.

"Muslim, Jew, Sikh, Christian or Atheist, and all cultures and beliefs are welcome! We are all human beings. We are all one community."

A statement was read out from The Mayor of Swindon, Cllr Junab Ali, who had a clash of engagements.

He said: "Firstly I would like to thank everyone who has turned out today to welcome refugees and migrants to Swindon, a Town of Sanctuary.

"It is heartening to see people from all nationalities and faiths drawing together as one community sending a clear message that Swindon continues to grow and flourish as a multicultural Town.

"A Town where 120 different languages are spoken in our schools and migrants contribute more than they take from the local economy. Swindon is a Town that from its earliest conception has always been multicultural, having been built by migrants from Scotland, Ireland and the North of England.

"We are as a Town, proud of that history. Whether you have come from Scotland, Ireland, Italy, India, Goa ea, Japan, Portugal, Bangladesh or Pakistan. Nepal, Africa, Jamaica, Syria, Poland or anywhere else, you are welcome to live in Swindon and to work amongst us and further enrich our community.

"Together, united as one. We are all Swindonians"

Annie Vickers, of Swindon City of Sanctuary said: ‘It’s really important that we don’t forget the refugee crisis, the biggest since the end of the Second World War. People are still fleeing violence, war and persecution; a very few end up in Swindon. This town has a long history of welcoming people from elsewhere. It’s something to be proud of. We’re delighted to stand up and say that refugees are welcome here."