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Windrush generation to be honoured by Waterloo memorial May’s plan for Windrush memorial at Waterloo met with ‘disgust’
(about 3 hours later)
A memorial to the Windrush generation will be created at Waterloo station in London, Theresa May has announced. A memorial to the Windrush generation at Waterloo station in London is being “imposed” by the government to the “disgust” of the Caribbean community, the Windrush Foundation has said.
Announcing the permanent monument on Saturday, Theresa May said it would be a “lasting legacy” to the “tremendous contribution” of the Windrush generation.
However, Arthur Torrington, the chair of the Windrush Foundation, said the government was behaving “arrogantly” and “treating the Caribbean community like children” by not consulting with key groups, while he noted just 13 Windrush victims have so far been granted emergency support by the government.
“Its like imposing a monument on your behalf where you don’t want it and saying this is what you should have,” Torrington said.
“You can’t just bully a community and say, ‘Here is a monument’. This is the same arrogance that led to the Windrush scandal. In a sense they’re looking for another one by treating the Caribbean community like children.”
He said that the community wanted it to be in Brixton, in Windrush Square, and that Waterloo station had “nothing to do with Windrush”.
“We are angry,” he said. “We feel like the government is using its power to offend the Caribbean community.
Windrush is about 1948 … We don’t understand why the government can’t consult more. This monument is being imposed to our disgust.”
It comes a week after another prominent victim, former Middlesex cricketer Richard Stewart, died without receiving compensation or a personal apology from the government.
The memorial was announced on Saturday, as events were due to take place for the first Windrush Day to mark 71 years since the first arrival.
Up to £1m in funding has been earmarked by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government for a “lasting, fitting tribute”.Up to £1m in funding has been earmarked by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government for a “lasting, fitting tribute”.
The prime minister said the permanent monument would be seen by “millions of people from all around the world” every year.
The memorial was announced on Saturday, as events were due to take place for the first Windrush Day to mark 71 years since the arrival of the first “pioneers”.
A national Windrush Day? Theresa May has some nerve | Kehinde AndrewsA national Windrush Day? Theresa May has some nerve | Kehinde Andrews
“The Windrush generation helped lay the foundations for the country we know today, which is richer and stronger as a result of their hard work and dedication to the UK,” May said.“The Windrush generation helped lay the foundations for the country we know today, which is richer and stronger as a result of their hard work and dedication to the UK,” May said.
“This monument will be a lasting legacy to the tremendous contribution the Windrush generation and their children have made to our great country.”“This monument will be a lasting legacy to the tremendous contribution the Windrush generation and their children have made to our great country.”
About 500 migrants from the Caribbean arrived at Tilbury Docks in Essex on 22 June 1948 aboard the MV Empire Windrush, at the invitation of the British government, to help rebuild the UK in the aftermath of the second world war.About 500 migrants from the Caribbean arrived at Tilbury Docks in Essex on 22 June 1948 aboard the MV Empire Windrush, at the invitation of the British government, to help rebuild the UK in the aftermath of the second world war.
Ministers and the Home Office came under fire after it was revealed members of the Windrush generation and their children had been wrongly detained and deported – and others denied access to healthcare, work, housing benefits and pensions.Ministers and the Home Office came under fire after it was revealed members of the Windrush generation and their children had been wrongly detained and deported – and others denied access to healthcare, work, housing benefits and pensions.
Amber Rudd was forced to step down as home secretary after a series of revelations in the Guardian over the Windrush scandal culminated in a leak that appeared to show she was aware of targets for removing illegal migrants from Britain.Amber Rudd was forced to step down as home secretary after a series of revelations in the Guardian over the Windrush scandal culminated in a leak that appeared to show she was aware of targets for removing illegal migrants from Britain.
On Saturday, the mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, criticised the way the Windrush generation and their families have been treated by the government, as he pledged to invest up to £370,000 to help Londoners access legal support to secure their immigration status.
“The disgraceful way the Windrush generation and their families have been treated by the government is a national scandal,” he said. “Their experiences clearly demonstrate that the immigration process is difficult to navigate and the increasing severity of the hostile environment is putting Londoners with the right to be here at risk of destitution.
“The government has already failed the Windrush generation, but we have to act now to stop an injustice like this from happening again.”
Following the scandal, May established the Windrush Commemoration Committee to consider how best to create a permanent, fitting tribute to the Windrush generation and their descendants.Following the scandal, May established the Windrush Commemoration Committee to consider how best to create a permanent, fitting tribute to the Windrush generation and their descendants.
This Windrush Day, hope now seems like a thing of the pastThis Windrush Day, hope now seems like a thing of the past
The committee’s chairwoman, Lady Floella Benjamin, said: “Having a Windrush monument located at Waterloo station where thousands of Windrush pioneers – including children like myself – first arrived in London, will be a symbolic link to our past as we celebrate our future.The committee’s chairwoman, Lady Floella Benjamin, said: “Having a Windrush monument located at Waterloo station where thousands of Windrush pioneers – including children like myself – first arrived in London, will be a symbolic link to our past as we celebrate our future.
“The committee is determined to build a monument of great beauty and emotional impact which will lift the hearts of those who visit when it’s unveiled. I hope it will inspire pride and a sense of belonging to all those associated with the Windrush story.”“The committee is determined to build a monument of great beauty and emotional impact which will lift the hearts of those who visit when it’s unveiled. I hope it will inspire pride and a sense of belonging to all those associated with the Windrush story.”
The committee will work with designers over the coming months on a scheme for the memorial.
The communities secretary, James Brokenshire, said: “Waterloo station has been the gateway for generations of people coming to Britain. It stands at the heart of the Windrush story and will provide a central location to allow us all to reflect on our shared history and heritage.
“As communities across the country celebrate national Windrush Day, people in years to come will have a permanent reminder of the outstanding contribution of the Windrush generation and their descendants.”
Windrush scandalWindrush scandal
Commonwealth immigrationCommonwealth immigration
Immigration and asylumImmigration and asylum
Theresa MayTheresa May
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