EU Citizens' Manifesto for Change
People move. This simple and universal truth has led us here today.
This Manifesto has been produced by communities which have come together united by our conviction that every human deserves to be treated with respect, no matter where they come from, the colour of their skin, or how much money they have.
In a time of complex global challenges, we trust that the United Kingdom can show leadership on an international level by setting an example of a truly just, inclusive, fair and compassionate immigration system which is centred in humanity.
In order to reach this bold vision, we are playing our part
We can no longer stand still in witnessing the appalling repercussions of hostile immigration policies which deny people their human rights. We are coming together to build a movement which imagines - and fights for - a brighter, more equitable future, where the contributions of people who move are valued, rights are respected and justice is truly achieved.
We acknowledge that we are only a part of a much larger struggle for justice. In fact, as we write this Foreword, the Government’s controversial policy of sending asylum seekers to Rwanda has just become law. The marginalisation of people who move to the UK and the erosion of their rights are thus becoming more, not less, entrenched.
To counter this dangerous current and achieve our vision for change, it is imperative that we continue building the collective power of our communities. We cannot merely call for change to occur by pointing to statistics, telling stories and effectively issuing mere pleas to decision-makers to do the right thing. Rather, we have to commit to the long-term process of building power from the bottom up, bringing our diverse communities together as we do so, until we reach a point where we can wield real influence and shape the decisions that affect our lives.
This, after all, has been the spirit of the3million since we were first formed by a group of EU citizens who came together in the days following the 2016 Referendum. Over the past year, we have rekindled that spirit and renewed our community organising efforts further. We’ve listened to hundreds of EU and EEA citizens and their family members. Now it’s time to act.
In fact, this people-powered Manifesto is a call to action not only on MPs, but on us too: we commit to pursuing the campaigns needed to turn our policy solutions into reality and to work positively with all relevant stakeholders.
