Mum & daughter left dead for "weeks or months", no pain relief for pregnant Black women & stories from Black, Asian & Arab communities you shouldn't have missed this week - curated by Melissa Sigodo
Dystopian times
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This week, I held another Twitter Space about the Windrush scandal which still rages on. For those of you in the US, you are all sadly watching your own Windrush-style scandal unfold with ICE raids and deportations hence, I believe it is important to keep this topic in the spotlight.
On the panel, we were joined by the survivors of the scandal Hetticia McIntosh, Carl Nwazota, Euen Herbert, Charlotte Tobierre and Chris Hayibor who opened up about their experiences as well as their demands for change. We also had speakers including the Deputy Mayor of London Debbie Weekes-Bernard, Batman actor Colin McFarlane and author, lecturer and campaigner Professor Gus John. I am currently editing the recording of the space so I’ll share that when it is ready.
I also want to say thank you for staying informed. Some of you have told me how you rely on this newsletter and I’m grateful to be of service. I hope more people can stay informed so please share this newsletter with anyone you feel is perhaps lacking information or is ill-informed.
This week also saw the media suddenly wake up to one of the worst humanitarian disasters the world has ever seen after images emerged of starving Palestinian children being held by their equally emaciated parents. Food is a human right but for the last 21 months, the fragile lives of babies have apparently been up for debate.
Unintentionally, this week’s newsletter also highlights how starvation is one of the cruellest experiences a man can face, whether through blockade, negligence or cuts to international aid.
Without further delay, here are the stories you shouldn’t have missed this week including updates on Sudan, Windrush, Black maternal health and policing.
News
A mother and her disabled daughter who were left dead for “weeks or months” could have been saved if an ambulance had attended when the mum called and said, “please come, please”. Alphonsine Djiako Leuga, 47, and her 18-year-old daughter Loraine Choulla were discovered after a passer-by alerted police instead of professionals. Read the full story by Asha Patel and Alex Smith at BBC.
Politics
The former First Minister of Scotland says that Israel is starving his wife’s cousin along with her husband and four children. In a post on X formerly Twitter, Humza Yousaf called for governments to “open borders and allow aid to flow in”. Read the full story by Lucy Jackson at The National.
A United Nations (UN) human rights chief has said that the government’s ban on Palestine Action is “at odds with the UK’s obligations under international human rights law”. The ban has also been condemned by UN experts and other groups who say it is “conflating protest with terrorism”. Read the full story by Eleni Courea at The Guardian.
Male Violence Against Women and Girls
A man who stalked his estranged wife and stabbed her to death while she pushed their baby in a pram has been jailed for at least 28 years. Habibur Masum, 26 murdered Kulsuma Akter, 27. In a statement after the sentencing, her family said they have been left with a “emptiness” and a “painful void”. Read the full story by ITV News.
Actors, authors and comedians among over 50 influential women have written to the government calling for asylum seekers to be included in plans to tackle violence against women and girls due to be published in September. More than 85 percent of females seeking asylum have faced torture or rape. Read the full story by Diane Taylor at The Guardian.
Crime
Neo-Nazi group members have been involved in organising “anti-immigrant protests” outside an Essex hotel which saw 10 people arrested. “Protests” also took place outside a hotel in Canary Wharf this week which had not yet received any asylum seekers. Read the full story by Holly Evans at The Independent.
An east African man who was chased by “protesters” outside a hotel housing asylum seekers says he has not been able to sleep since the “racist attack”. More “protests” are planned for Sunday in Epping, Essex. Read the full story by Diane Taylor at The Guardian.
Health
More than half of Black women who raised health concerns during pregnancy did not get suitable help and 23 percent did not receive pain relief when they asked for it, a study has found. One woman who took part in the report said that after having a c-section she was in “excruciating pain” but received more help from other mothers on the ward than the midwives. Read the full story by Tobi Thomas at The Guardian.
Disability
A visually impaired Beyonce fan who attended the star’s concert in London was told to give up her cane to access the VIP area which left her feeling “dehumanised”. Esther Obigbesan had contacted the VIP package providers beforehand to inform them of her access needs but did not get a response. She says she spent most of the three-hour show in tears. Read the full story by Megan Howe at The Standard.
The family of an autistic man who was asked about British values during a GB News vox pop interview says they have been left “reeling” and have accused the broadcaster of purposely making him “look stupid.” The family say they are also furious after seeing the clips of him that were posted on social media platforms with dozens of racist and mocking comments. Read the full story by Bill Curtis at The London Economic.
Windrush
A Windrush scandal victim who has spent nearly three decades exiled in Poland has arrived back to the UK. George Lee who lived in the UK since the age of seven was blocked from re-entering the country after taking a teaching contract in Poland where he says he was then forced into squalid conditions living without electricity. Read the full story by Jam Radio.
A landmark community report into the Windrush scandal is calling for urgent reform of the compensation scheme. Author of the report and Chief Inquiry Officer, international law barrister Priscellia Pyhia Robinson says “delaying justice” is a “breach of international law”. Read the full story by Sinai Fleary at The Voice Online.
LGBTQ+
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