I am, because we are. I stand on the shoulders of those that came before, I able to bring about change because of them and because of our collective people power. If one person’s life is saved, one family is able to stay together, one community is able to live with dignity, because of the actions I am able to take with others, then this enriches and empowers us all. I strive for equality and human rights for all, in my lifetime but I also want to create a positive legacy for future generations. #StopthePlane #CitizenshipisaRight #BlackLivesMatter #Jamaica50 #Zimbabwe150
The Campaign
During the pandemic, the UK Government embarked on what are widely viewed as a hostile series of mass deportations by charter flight to countries like Jamaica, Zimbabwe, Vietnam, Nigeria and Ghana. In addition, refugees in Northern France were left in limbo and people seeking asylum, who had no recourse to public funds, were disproportionately affected by the pandemic.
Zita campaigned to stop the flights and, whilst they still went ahead, they left with fewer people on board. Working together with lawyers and other migrant rights and race equality groups, Zita organised support to get individuals and their families removed from the flights.
Advice, information and legal representation was offered to those affected, and the campaign used social media, art, videos and petitions to raise awareness, gain public support, lobby politicians, and put pressure on organisations complicit in these deportations, like airlines. Protests and creative direct actions targeted the airlines running the flights.
Zita ran fundraising campaigns to support individuals and provide aid to refugees, and people with no recourse to public funds.
Credit: Zita Holbourne
It is such an honour to be shortlisted. I campaign and fight for equality, freedom, justice and human rights, not for awards but because I believe we are all entitled to dignity, joy and peace in our lives, and because it is essential to create a positive legacy for the next generation.”
Credit: Zita Holbourne
It is such an honour to be shortlisted. I campaign and fight for equality, freedom, justice and human rights, not for awards but because I believe we are all entitled to dignity, joy and peace in our lives, and because it is essential to create a positive legacy for the next generation.”
The Change
Most people affected were not deported, thanks to legal representation and access to support organisations. The awareness that the campaign generated put pressure on those responsible and led to multiple successful legal challenges.
One airline responsible for running the majority of the 2021 deportation flights was targeted by the campaign, which caused them to withdraw.
Some funding was agreed by the Government for those with no recourse to public funds and, whilst campaigners considered it far from adequate, it would not have come about without campaigning and public pressure.
Many draconian aspects of the Nationality and Borders Bill were defeated in the House of Lords through protests, the mobilisation of support, public awareness-raising, political lobbying, social media campaigns and creative protests. These maintained pressure on the Government and contributed to a better outcome.
In April 2022, BARAC UK landed a victory. As a result of their campaigning, the government did a u-turn on their inhumane and illegal push-back of small boats of refugees into the English Channel sea.
The Future
The struggle continues and the hostile environment for black, minority ethnic, migrant and refugee communities has not ended. Zita’s belief is that, by harnessing collective people power in mobilising and organising, positive change can happen. Zita says her work and collaboration with others will continue to tackle interconnected issues, linked to the legacies of colonialism and enslavement, because those legacies must be addressed, and the human rights of all people must be fought for.
Who else was involved?
The general public, members of Zita’s organisation, BARAC UK, members of its sister organisation, African and Caribbean Lawyers for Justice, race equality and migrant rights groups, and other campaigners