Prayer vigil at Home Office for refugees drowned in Channel

Photo: Mazur/CBCEW.org.uk

A vigil, organised by Westminster Justice and Peace and London Catholic Worker, will be held outside the Home Office, 2 Marsham St, London SW1P 4DF, on Monday, 13 December 2021, from 12.30pm - 1.30pm, to pray for refugees who have drowned in the Channel, trying to reach sanctuary in England. Their names will be read out. Campaigners will gather here on the third Monday of every month in 2022, that these deaths may not have been in vain, and serve instead to bring justice for people seeking sanctuary.

Barbara Kentish writes: "On Wednesday 24th November, 27 people died when their boat capsized in the English Channel. These numbers are shocking, but the people who died were not numbers. They were human beings, with a name, a face and a story. We will read out their names and the names of others who have died trying to reach the UK and Europe, thanks to the lack of any safe process. We will pray for them, for their families and all of those who are still attempting this terrible journey.

"We will pray for those who profit from their desperation, and those who create the policies that give them little option but to embrace these dangers.

"Since 1993, nearly 50,000 people have died either at sea or in tragic circumstances on their journeys, seeking safety in Europe. Bring your prayers, your pain and concern to the vigil, where we join in spirit with thousands who want to see an end to such suffering and tragedy."

For more information contact: barbarakentish@talktalk.net and johanmaertens@hotmail.com