Following the harrowing TV images of thousands of refugees fleeing to Europe away from their devastated homelands, the horrifying images of boats sinking in the Mediterranean, a vehicle full of dead corpses on an Austrian motorway and a tragic boy washed up dead on a Turkish beach, the people of Europe have woken from their paralysis and are now starting to take matters into their own hands.
Believing European citizens to all be right-wing, nationalistic and xenophobic, leader after leader has tried to give harsher and harsher statements refusing to take in refugees believing it to be in tune with the public mood that they themselves have tried to create. Europe’s citizens are clearly accepting this policy less and less and have gone to the streets in their thousands to show support and solidarity, causing many politicians to go back on the previous statements.
For months now in countries such as Italy, Greece and Hungary local citizens have been mobilising to provide a humanitarian response that EU governments refuse to do. And this Saturday 12th September dozens of Europe’s cities and towns are hosting special events in a “European Day of Action for Refugees”.
According to the day’s organisers: “It’s time to speak out against the deadly borders that have been enacted in our name. People all over Europe are organizing resistance and solidarity in their towns and cities. On the 12th of September we want to show with thousands of people all over Europe our solidarity with those fleeing war, violence and destitution. We want to let all the refugees know: You are welcome!”
72 events in Europe and 4 in the rest of the world are currently listed on their Facebook page and more are being added. The London event alone expects 87000 people to attend.
The invitation goes on, “We can’t continue to allow thousands to die trying to reach Europe as they search for safety, hope and the chance to live another day. We can’t stay silent anymore as our politicians and the media are stigmatizing these men, women and children as threats and burdens. We can’t let our governments close all our borders and build fences to keep people in need out. That’s not what Europe should be about.”
Events include welcome parties, concerts, demonstrations, candle-light vigils and marches.
The invitation finishes: “The future of Europe is at stake here. Are we going to have a Europe of barbed wire, walls and fences? Or are we going to have a Europe in which mutual solidarity and empathy are prioritised and in which those arriving can re-build their lives with the dignity, respect and support they deserve?”
