The election: we need equality at the heart of politics
Zita Holbourne says why she's voting Labour
We have had ten years of a hostile environment where migrant communities to the UK who have contributed to the economy and society and raised their families over decades are suddenly told they are in the UK illegally, detained, criminalised and deported. As a campaigner for justice for not just the Windrush generation and multi-generation families, but all impacted by the hostile environment, including those fleeing the impacts of climate change, conflict, poverty and persecution who are scapegoats and labelled, the artwork was a response to this.
Ending the hostile environment, deepening racism and injustice faced by black (BAME) and migrant communities is essential going forward, and one of many key reasons why we need a Labour Government in power to reverse laws and policies which seek to divide communities, strip away rights, and fuel racist and xenophobic hate crime.
The trauma, pain, displacement and isolation that people have and continue to face must be addressed urgently. Whole families have been torn apart and for some it is too late.
We need equality at the heart of politics and an end to such abuses and breaches of our human rights and only a Labour government can deliver this.
Zita Holbourne
Co-founder & National Chair, BARAC UK
Author, writer, poet, artist, curator, vocalist
Joint National Chair, Artists' Union England
UNESCO Coalition of Artists for the history of Africa
Nawi Collective
www.blackactivistsrisingagainstcuts.blogspot.com; www.zitaholbourne.com; www.zitaholbourne.blogspot.com