One Day Without Us

Tomorrow an event called One Day Without Us is taking place all over the UK. The following text is from the organisers' webpage:

"Action on 20th Feb 2017 to celebrate the contribution of migrants to the UK, to coincide with UN World Day of Social Justice.

For 24 hours, we are inviting migrants from inside and outside the European Union, and everyone who supports them, to celebrate the contribution that migrants make.

Some may choose to do this symbolically, by wearing badges and lanyards, posting selfies or pictures that show your support, or putting posters in their windows. Some may wish to have a communal meal or a party with the migrants they have known as friends, colleagues, workmates and neighbours. Workers may take a five-minute silence or a mini-rally at lunchtime or tea-time. There are also those who may wish to highlight migrant contributions to the UK in more direct ways.

There are many ways that you can take part in this day. Do what you feel able to do and what you feel is most appropriate to your situation.

Whatever your nationality and place of origin; wherever you live and work, join us and make February 20 a day of protest, solidarity and celebration.

At 1pm we are inviting all migrants and their supporters to take part in a unifying action.  Link arms and/or hold up placards. Take photos and post them on social media using our hashtag #1DayWithoutUs. We also invite you to take selfies individually before and after this action and post them with your personal messages of support using the hashtag."

I will not be able to participate physically but will be there in spirit. I'm on a 14 hour shift tomorrow supporting vulnerable adults, and they do not deserve the chaos it would cause if I didn't turn up. They may lack capacity in some areas, but have 100% capacity to see beyond people's nationality, looks, religion and accent. What matters is that you are a decent person. I'm so lucky to have them, as well as lovely, tolerant and international colleagues - even the Yorkshire born and bred ones are made of various nationalities going just one or two generations back. 

I hope One Day Without Us will get plenty of attention and lead to something positive. This post is just my small contribution to spread the word.