Freelance writer and editor Cath Senker has started a petition to encourage Brighton and Hove Council to accept more Syrian refugees to the city.
Brighton Council are presently committed to receiving five Syrian families but considering the scale of the international crisis unfolding across Europe, Cath believes that Brighton and Hove Council should be doing more to help, especially as recently as June 2015 they were named as A City of Sanctuary, a movement committed to building a culture of hospitality and welcome, especially for refugees seeking sanctuary from war and persecution.
The petition to Cllr Warren Morgan, the Labour Leader of Brighton and Hove City Council, reads:
“We the undersigned are pleased to hear that 5 Syrian refugee families will soon be arriving in Brighton and Hove. But given the scale of the current refugee crisis, we could do much more. We have the experience of welcoming 79 Oroma refugees in 2006 and an upsurge in offers of help from individuals and existing and new organisations working with refugees. We urge Brighton and Hove Council to bring in far greater numbers of Syrian refugees as soon as possible.”
Cath says: “At the Sanctuary on Sea launch event in June 2015, Brighton & Hove was named ‘Sanctuary on Sea’ in recognition of the city-wide efforts to create a culture of welcome for people fleeing conflict and persecution. At the event, Cllr Morgan underlined the city’s commitment to welcome refugees to our city. Now is an important time to deliver on that commitment.”
To sign the petition, click here: