Elmbridge CAN NEWS
20 July 2023 | All photos copywriter of Elmbridge CAN
Elmbridge CAN Receives Hundreds of Messages of Love and Support Following Demonstration Outside Bridging Hotel
On the evening of Tuesday 11 July the bridging hotel in Elmbridge was approached by a crowd of demonstrators chanting foul mouthed, frequently racist slogans and aggressively pointing banners bearing inflammatory and untrue statements at the windows. The abuse included statements regarding the Islamic religion designed to upset and provoke residents as much as possible. Elmbridge CAN volunteers were present in this hotel to provide emotional and practical support to the families housed there.
Demonstrators referred to the residents of the hotel as “illegal immigrants.” All residents are Afghans, mainly families with children, evacuated by the UK army operation from Kabul in August 2021. They have every right to be here, because they had assisted UK Government in Afghanistan through their work, and/or British Passport holders bringing their immediate family dependents to safety. They all have a legal right to work and to be supported in establishing new lives in the UK.
In a GB News live report it was stated that the local community wanted them removed, not just from the hotel but from the country. This is not the case. The experience of Elmbridge CAN volunteers working within the community is that the vast majority of people in Elmbridge accept that the UK has a moral and legal obligation to ensure that these fellow human beings, who have suffered so much, have safe sanctuary here. As a charity, we have been inundated with support for these guests from local residents since they arrived nearly two years ago, welcoming and supporting families, providing support and messages of solidarity and welcome to allow families to settle into the local community.
We have received hundreds of messages of love and support for these families from members of our local community (view them here). We are delivering these to them and we hope they provide some comfort and reassurance. We know that people in Elmbridge stand by those who have had to flee their home, and reject hatred.
Demonstrators referred to the residents of the hotel as “illegal immigrants.” All residents are Afghans, mainly families with children, evacuated by the UK army operation from Kabul in August 2021. They have every right to be here, because they had assisted UK Government in Afghanistan through their work, and/or British Passport holders bringing their immediate family dependents to safety. They all have a legal right to work and to be supported in establishing new lives in the UK.
In a GB News live report it was stated that the local community wanted them removed, not just from the hotel but from the country. This is not the case. The experience of Elmbridge CAN volunteers working within the community is that the vast majority of people in Elmbridge accept that the UK has a moral and legal obligation to ensure that these fellow human beings, who have suffered so much, have safe sanctuary here. As a charity, we have been inundated with support for these guests from local residents since they arrived nearly two years ago, welcoming and supporting families, providing support and messages of solidarity and welcome to allow families to settle into the local community.
We have received hundreds of messages of love and support for these families from members of our local community (view them here). We are delivering these to them and we hope they provide some comfort and reassurance. We know that people in Elmbridge stand by those who have had to flee their home, and reject hatred.