Open Letter to the Guardian

This letter was published in The Guardian on 7th August 2013.

If you agree with it, please also sign this petition.

We are writing to express our concern about recent Government initiatives against irregular immigration (“Immigration spot checks not racist, says Home Office“, 3 August). The most recent of these include the ‘Go Home’ van campaign, which echoes the National Front graffiti slogans in the 1970s, and the immigration raids on tube stations in poor, mixed urban areas, which according to Doreen Lawrence and eyewitness accounts have involved racial profiling. Proposals to require tourists from six Asian and African countries to pay a £3000 bond; to charge non-EU migrants for healthcare; and to require private landlords to check the immigration status of prospective tenants also open the door to a great deal of discrimination and abuse. These initiatives, combined with their promotion through inflammatory language on Twitter, represent an increasing politicisation of Home Office policy, where fears about immigration are exploited for a hoped-for electoral gain, whilst creating a climate of fear for migrants and people of colour.

We condemn and demand the withdrawal of these ill-thought-out and reactionary initiatives. We believe that they may incite racism and intolerance within our communities and reverse the progress that has been made by previous generations towards equality. It is with great urgency that we ask the government to review its approach to immigration policy. We also call on others to join us in this condemnation of current government policy.

1. Kirsten Forkert, Birmingham City University
2. Gurminder K Bhambra, University of Warwick
3. Hannah Jones, Open University
4. Lord Meghnad Desai
5. Ken Livingstone
6. Salma Yaqoob
7. Natalie Bennett, Leader of the Green Party
8. Isabella Sankey, Policy Director, Liberty
9. Ojeaku Nwabuzo, The Runnymede Trust
10. Caroline Lucas, Green MP for Brighton Pavilion
11. Diana Holland, Assistant General Secretary, Unite
12. Robert Sparks| Partner |Fisher Meredith LLP
13. Maxine Peake, actress
14. Owen Jones, author and journalist
15. Alison Pickup, Barrister, Doughty Street Chambers
16. Robert Beckford, Canterbury Christ Church University, film-maker
17. Nell Dunn, Playwright and author
18. Dave Garratt, Chief Executive, Refugee Action
19. Daniel Corradi Stevens, International Students Officer, NUS
20. Rick Muir, Labour councillor, London Borough of Hackney
21. Charlie Burnett, Christian Khan Solicitors
22. Anna Thwaites, Partner, Hodge Jones & Allen LLP
23. Caoilfhionn Gallagher, Barrister, Doughty Street Chambers
24. Chris Topping, Partner, Broudie, Jackson, Cantor
25. Priyamvada Gopal, University of Cambridge
26. Caroline Criado-Perez, The Women’s Room
27. John Holmwood, University of Nottingham, President of the British Sociological Association
28. Celia Clarke, Director, Bail for Immigration Detainees
29. Chetan Bhatt, Director, Centre for the Study of Human Rights, LSE
30. Nira Yuval-Davis, Centre for Migration, Refugees and Belonging, UEL
31. Anna Mazzola, Associate, Public Law & Human Rights
32. Emma Lindley, Royal Society of the Arts
33. Don Flynn, Migrants Rights Network
34. Angela Last, Central St Martins
35. Lara Pawson, writer and journalist
36. Selma Dabbagh, writer
37. Jude Bunting, Barrister, Doughty Street Chambers
38. Chez Cotton, Partner, Head Police Misconduct Dept, Bindmans LLP
39. Gwawr Thomas, Barrister, 1 Mitre Court Buildings
40. Maya Sikand | Barrister | Garden Court Chambers
41. Ben Gidley, University of Oxford
42. Yasmin Gunarathnam, Goldsmiths, University of London
43. Rita Chadha, Refugee and Migrant Forum East London
44. Chitra Nagarajan, Black Feminists
45. Gargi Bhattacharyya, University of East London
46. Rosemary Kidd , Chair of the Churches Refugee Network
47. Sukhwant Dhaliwal, Goldsmiths, University of London
48. Emma Jackson, University of Glasgow
49. Bronwen Jones, Barrister, Tooks Chambers
50. Steve Garner, Aston University
51. Beverly Woodburn, UNITE
52. Ian Manborde, Ruskin College
53. Andy Danford, University of the West of England
54. Justine Roland Cal, artist and art therapist
55. Satnam Virdee, University of Glasgow
56. Hazel Conley, Queen Mary University of London
57. Andreas Bieler, University of Nottingham
58. Brendan McGeever, University of Glasgow
59. Mark Cresswell, Durham University
60. Les Levidow,Open University
61. Des Freedman,  Goldsmiths, University of London
62. Peter Conlin, Academica Sinica (Taiwan)
63. Peter Waterman, University of the Hague (retired)
64. Miguel Martinez Lucio, University of Manchester
65. Rachel Cohen, City University
66. Anamik Saha, University of Leeds
67. Marj Mayo, Goldsmiths, University of London
68. Ian Fitzgerald, University of Northumbria
69. Puck de Raadt, Churches Refugee Network
70. Justin Cruickshank, University of Birmingham
71. Karim Murji, Open University
72. John Narayan, University of Warwick
73. Daniel Orrells, University of Warwick
74. Aaron Winter, University of Abertay
75. Alexandra M. Kokoli, Robert Gordon University
76. Alice Mah, University of Warwick
77. Colin Stephen, Coventry University
78. Paul Kirby, University of Sussex
79. Debra Benita Shaw, University of East London
80. Kate Hardy, University of Leeds
81. Rick F J Jones, University of Leeds
82. Jo Littler, City University
83. Katherine Champion, University of Glasgow
84. Kate Sang, Heriot Watt University
85. Carl Mallett University of Warwick
86. Leila Whitley, Goldsmiths, University of London
87. Vaughan Jones, Praxis Community Projects
88. David Madden, LSE
89. Mahmoona Shah, Bradford College
90. Alberto Toscano, Goldsmiths, University of London
91. Laleh Khalili, SOAS
92. Robbie Shilliam, Queen Mary University of London
93. Alex Rhys-Taylor, Goldsmiths, University of London
94. Hilde Stephansen, Open University
95. Naaz Rashid, LSE
96. Alison Rooke, Goldsmiths, University of London
97. Helen Kim, LSE
98. Tom Henri, Goldsmiths, University of London
99. John Clarke, Open University
100. Shamik Dutta, Bhatt Murphy Solicitors
101. Janet Newman, Open University
102. Malcolm James, City University
103. Srila Roy, University of Nottingham
104. Ben Rogaly, University of Sussex
105. Brenna Bhandar, SOAS, University of London
106. Nadje Al-Ali, SOAS, University  of London
107. Navtej Purewal, University of Manchester
108. Virinder Kalra, University of Manchester
109. Victoria Redclift, University of Manchester
110. Gwen Jones, photographer
111. Nicky Roy
112. Emily Hyett
113. Rashné Limki, Black Feminists
114. Kiri Kankhwende, Black Feminists
115. Lola Okolosie, Black Feminists
116. Samantha Asumadu, Media Diversity UK
117. Miranda Armstrong, Black Feminists
118. La Toyah McAllister-Jones, Black Feminists
119. Mariam Motamedi-Fraser, Goldsmiths, University of London
120. Aisha K. Gill, University of Roehampton
121. Gina Heathcote, SOAS, University of London
122. Clare Hemmings, Gender Institute, London School of Economics
123. Gholam Khiabany, Sussex University
124. Dave O’Brien, City University
125. Liz Moor, Goldsmiths, University of London
126. Nigel Clark, Lancaster University
127. Tariq Jazeel, Sheffield University
128. Michaela Benson, University of York
129. Dom Hinde, University of Edinburgh
130. Alexander Smith, University of Warwick
131. Estelle du Boulay, Newham Monitoring Project
132. William Davies, University of Warwick
133. James Meadway, SOAS, University of London
134. Danat Valizade, University of Leeds
135. Vicky Blake, University of Leeds
136. Matt Fuller, Goldsmiths, University of London
137. Lynne Pettinger, University of Essex
138. Andrew Goffey, University of Nottingham
139. Eva Giraud, University of Nottingham
140. Ewen Speed, University of Essex
141. Pritam Singh, Oxford Brookes University.
142. Sian Moore, University of the West of England
143. Roger McKenzie, Assistant General Secretary of UNISON
144. Jane Lane, National Children’s Bureau
145. Ritu Mahendru, South Asian Sexual Health (SASH) Forum
146. Paul Stewart, University of Strathclyde
147. Katy Proctor, Glasgow Caledonian University
148. Laura Piacentini, Strathclyde University
149. Vicky Margree, Brighton University
150. Dieuwertje Dyi Huijg, University of Manchester
151. Roger Burrows, Goldsmiths, University of London
152. Simon Parker, University of York
153. Vic Seidler, Goldsmiths, University of London
154. Sarah Burton, Glasgow University
155. Jo Grady, University of Leicester
156. Jennifer Birks, University of Nottingham
157. Roiyah Saltus, University of South Wales
158. Isaac Marrero-Guillamón, Goldsmiths, University of London
159. Suzanne Hall, LSE
160. Susan Kelly, Goldsmiths, University of London
161. Christian Fuchs, University of Westminster
162. Steve Jefferys, London Metropolitan University
163. Irene Gedalof, London Metropolitan University
164. Blake Morrison, Goldsmiths, University of London
165. Kathryn Yusoff, Queen Mary, University of London
166. Mark R D Johnson, De Montfort & Warwick Universities
167. Emma Uprichard, Warwick University
168. Raggi Kotak, 1 Pump Court
169. Gurpreet Virdee (Central Services & Development Director) Women and Girls Network
170. Sonia Mehta, South Asian Women’s Creative Collective
171. Naseem Shah, NHS Bradford CCG
172. Poulomi Desai: Usurp Art Gallery & Studios
173. Sasha Bhat, Bradford
174. Sonia McKay, London Metropolitan University
175. Geetanjali Gangoli, University of Bristol
176. Sara Ahmed, Goldsmiths, University of London
177. Max Farrar, Leeds Metropolitan University (emeritus)
178. Alana Lentin, University of Western Sydney
179. Melissa Fernández, Birkbeck/LSE
180. Seema Rooshka
181. Amanda Sackur, UCU
182. Nina Wakeford, Goldsmiths College
183. Katy Proctor, Glasgow Caledonian University
184. Laura Piacentini, Strathclyde University
185. Dom Hinde, University of Edinburgh
186. Joe Deville, Goldsmiths, University of London
187. Nandita Dogra
188. William Gould, University of Leeds
189. Tessa Jackson, Queen Mary, University of London
190. Sally Hines, University of Leeds
191. Rowland Atkinson, University of York
192. Anisa Mustafa, University of Nottingham
193. Carlos Moreno Leguizamon, Greenwich University
194. Avtar Brah, Birkbeck College, London
195. Dom Anderson, NUS Vice President Society and Citizenship
196. Colum McGuire, NUS Vice President Welfare
197. Debaleena Dasgupta, Solicitor, Birnberg Peirce & Partners
198. Camilla Graham Wood, Solicitor and Committee Member of Young Legal Aid Lawyers
199. Natalie Sedacca,  Hodge Jones & Allen LLP
200. Rachel Waller, Solicitor,  Fisher Meredith LLP
201. Harriett Wistrich, Solicitor, Birnberg Peirce & Partners
202. Rachel Taylor, Solicitor, Police and Prison Law
203. Rachel Francis, Young Legal Aid Lawyers committee member
204. Jessica Dickason-Mitra, 1 Mitre Court Buildings
205. Bridget Anderson, board member KALAYAAN
206. Emma Collins, Solicitor, GT Stewart Solicitors & Advocates
207. Sophie Naftalin, Bhatt Murphy
208. Cris McCurley: international family law Partner, Ben Hoare Bell LLP
209. Kemi Spector, Bhatt Murphy
210. Renata Burns, Paralegal, GT Stewart Solicitors & Advocates
211. Jed Pennington, Bhatt Murphy
212. Jocelyn Cockburn, Partner, Hodge, Jones and Allen
213. Maria O’Connell, Matthew Gold and Company Limited, Solicitors
214. Saoirse Kerrigan, Trainee Solicitor, Fisher Meredith LLP
215. Deena Blacking, Young Legal Aid Lawyers member
216. Lana Adamou, Solicitor Fisher Meredith LLP
217. Margaret Finch, Solicitor/Director, TRP Solicitors Limited
218. John R Campbell, School of Oriental & African Studies
219. Polly Lane | Solicitor | Fisher Meredith LLP
220. James Mehigan, Tooks Chambers
221. John Grayson, Independent Researcher, vice chair SYMAAG (South Yorkshire Migration and Asylum Action Group)
222. Laura Woodhouse, The F-Word
223. Intimaria Tindall-Binz, Black Feminists
224. Cathy Gallagher, Public Sector, Legal Services Consultant
225. Gus Silverman | Solicitor, Fisher Meredith LLP
226. Theresa Mikuriya, University of Kent
227. Hannah Lewis, University of Leeds
228. Lucy Mayblin, University of Sheffield
229. Michael Farrelly, University of Hull
230. Nirmal Puwar, Goldsmiths College
231. Rebecca Pickering, Kenworthy’s Chambers
232. Nasar Meer, Northumbria University
233. Jerome Phelps, Detention Action
234. Gina Savanhu, Kadmos Consultants
235. Samir Abugideiri, Kadmos Consultants,
236. Helena Sheizon, Kadmos Consultants
237. Hilton von Herbert, Hackney Community Law Centre
238. Tim Barnden, Wesley Gryk Solicitors
239. Diana Neslen, Chair Redbridge Equalities and Community Council
240. Sanjay Sharma, Brunel University
241. Claudia Bernard, Goldsmiths, University of London
242. Annabelle Jacques
243. Kirsteen Paton, University of Leeds
244. Tracey Jensen, Newcastle University
245. Nicholas Sagovsky, Roehampton University
246. Kalpana Wilson, Gender Institute, LSE
247. Sarbjit Johal, South Asia Solidarity Group
248. Amrit Wilson, Freedom Without Fear Platform
249. Jean Peters, Peng Collective, Berlin
250. Stefan Szczelkun, University of Westminster
251. Harshad Keval, Canterbury Christ Church University
252. Tim Barnden, Wesley Gryk LLP
253. Lyn Luces, Solicitor
254. Mira Vogel
255. Lena Wånggren, University of Edinburgh
256. Tim Butler, KCL
257. Georgie Wemyss, University of East London
258. Owen Parker, University of Sheffield
259. Rashmi Varma, University of Warwick
260. Alejandro Colas, Birkbeck College
261. Maud Anne Bracke, University of Glasgow
262. Adam Kaasa, LSE
263. Anupama Ranawana, University of Aberdeen
264. Nazek Ramadan, Migrant Voice
265. Meena Patel, Southall Black Sisters