Thanks to John O at www.ncadc.org.uk for all his advice
National Coalition of Anti-Deportation Campaigns
Bringing Together Families and Individuals Fighting Deportation
If your Choice is no Choice! Speak out! Campaign to Stay!
Also thanks to ASIRT Asylum Support & Immigration Resource Team www.asirt.org.uk
Movies
What you can do to help:
1) Send urgent faxes immediately to Rt. Hon. Jacqui Smith, Secretary of State for the Home Office asking that Jumoke, Elizabeth and Daniella be granted protection in the UK. Please see model letter below, you can copy/amend/write your own version (if you do so, please remember to include the HO ref A1327520).
Fax: 020 7035 3262 (00 44 20 7035 3262 if you are faxing from outside UK)
All day today until Thursay:
2.) Please fax/phone/email, Conrad Clifford, Chief Executive Officer, Virgin Nigeria Airways, asking that Virgin Nigeria should not facilitate Home Office enforcement policies, model letter below. you can copy/amend/write your own version, if you do so, please remember to include the removal flight details: Virgin Nigeria Airways flight VK292, leaving Gatwick at 10.00am Thursday March 6th 2008.
Fax: 01293 448035 - from outside the UK + 44 1293 448035
Phone: General numbers at Virgin Nigeria @ Gatwick: 0870 403 1212 0844 412 1788
Email: customer.relations@virginnigeria.com
Thank you for your support.
Please notify the campaign of any faxes sent to Jacqui Smith or Virgin Nigerian airways to
jamoke1@hotmail.co.uk
Friends of Jumoke, Elizabeth & Daniella
Television
MODEL LETTER TO JACQUI SMITH you can copy/amend/ or write your own version
Urgent Fax Message to:
Rt. Hon. Jacqui Smith MP Secretary of State for the Home Office
3rd. Floor
Peel Building
2 Marsham Street London
SW1 4DF
Fax: 020 7035 3262
Dear Rt. Hon. Jacqui Smith,
Ref: Jumoke Adediwura and her children Elizabeth and Daniella,
Home Office ref: A1327520.
Jumoke and her children are Currently in Yarl's Wood IRC and due to be forcibly removed from the UK on Virgin Nigeria Airways Flight VK292 leaving London Gatwick at 10.00hrs for Lagos/Nigeria on Thursday March 6th 2008.
Jumoke, has lived in Birmingham for 5 years, she fled Nigeria due to the violence she was suffering, she feared for her life constantly. She suffered unspeakable violence at the hands of her Muslim family for her Christian beliefs. Whilst in the UK she also suffered constant domestic violence from the childrens father who she met here. He has since been deported to Nigeria. She has no-one safe to turn to if she returns. She is our friend, she is part of our community, she has done more for community cohesion than any government initiative could ever do, Jumoke has helped bring women together from all different nationalities through the common cause of humanity and justice. Elizabeth and Daniella were both born here in England; they both attend the local Childrens Centre. Elizabeth has special needs and needs the extra support that her special needs teacher can provide. She is currently undergoing assessment at Maas Road Child Development Centre. Daniella has behavioural problems due to witnessing domestic violence and the trauma that her mother is going through not knowing from one day to the next what is going to happen to them. Jumoke and her children have been torn out of the community, she is distraught, lonely and fearful for her life and that of her children.
It is of utmost importance to stop Jumoke being deported to a country that her children don't know, a way of life that is alien to them; they were born here in Britain and even though they are still very young, are therefore more familiar with British life than able to identify with Nigeria.
But most of all, their lives will be in serious danger – even more so now as their mother fled the country, which can't have gone unnoticed by the Nigerian authorities. I know if she gets sent back they will have a miserable existence. Nigeria is known for its oppression of and terrible violence against women and children, ritual killings, things too awful to contemplate.
'U.S.A: Country Reports on Human Rights Practices - Nigeria 2006
The government's human rights record remained poor, and government officials at all levels continued to commit serious abuses. The most significant human rights problems included; domestic violence and discrimination against women; female genital mutilation (FGM); child abuse and child sexual exploitation; societal violence; ethnic, regional, and religious discrimination; and trafficking in persons for the purposes of prostitution and forced labor'.
Jumoke has suffered from the above atrocities and doesn't want her children to experience the same horrors that she has.
'Children are targets of Nigerian witch-hunt (The Observer, Sunday December 9 2007)
Evangelical pastors are helping to create a terrible new campaign of violence against young Nigerians. Children and babies branded as evil are being abused, abandoned and even murdered while the preachers make money out of the fear of their parents and their communities'.
Elizabeth and Daniella will be branded as evil because of their special needs.
Jumoke and her children have been living in the Kings Heath area of Birmingham, attending Church and Bible classes, she attends her local womens group and is currently enrolled in two community courses, she has fully integrated into community life to make a better life for herself and her children.
Please do not force this family to return to their persecution, we ask you to give them the opportunity to continue the new lives they have built for themselves here, in their Birmingham home within the community they are now part of. I am concerned that this forced deportation of Jumoke Adediwura and her children Elizabeth and Daniella is a severe breach of justice and their human rights.
I would like to draw your attention to article 2 and 3 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights:
Article 2.
Everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth in this Declaration, without distinction of any kind, such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status. Furthermore, no distinction shall be made on the basis of the political, jurisdictional or international status of the country or territory to which a person belongs, whether it be independent, trust, non-self-governing or under any other limitation of sovereignty.
Article 3.
Everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of person.
How can these two basic human rights be ensured if Jumoke and her children are sent back to a country where we know their lives will be in constant danger – can you guarantee that these human rights will be upheld in Nigeria?
And if these two basic human rights are already threatened in their situation, how much less can be the one guaranteed in the next Article:
Article 5.
No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.
I urge you to grant Jumoke and her children the rights given them under Article 14:
Article 14.
(1) Everyone has the right to seek and to enjoy in other countries asylum from persecution.
(2) This right may not be invoked in the case of prosecutions genuinely arising from non-political crimes or from acts contrary to the purposes and principles of the United Nations.
Fax: 01293 448035 from outside the UK + 44 1293 448035
Dear Mr. Clifford
Ref. Forced Removal of Jumoke Adediwura and her children Elizabeth and Daniella on Virgin Nigeria Airways leaving London Gatwick @ 10.00hrs for Lagos/Nigeria on Thursday March 6th 2008.
Jumoke, has lived in Birmingham for 5 years, she had to leave Nigeria due to the violence she was suffering, she feared for her life constantly. She suffered unspeakable violence at the hands of her Muslim family for her Christian beliefs. Whilst in the UK she also suffered constant domestic violence from the childrens father who she met here. He has since been deported to Nigeria. She has no-one safe to turn to if she returns.
She is our friend, she is part of our community, she has done more for community cohesion than any government initiative could ever do, Jumoke has helped bring women together from all different nationalities through the common cause of humanity and justice. We stand together to help each other and today we are asking you to join us in reaching out to help Jumoke, Daniella (aged 2) & Elizabeth (aged 3). They were both born here in England; they attend the local children's Centre. Elizabeth has special needs and needs the extra support that her special needs teacher can provide. She is currently undergoing assessment at Maas Road Child Development Centre. Daniella has behavioural problems due to witnessing domestic violence and the trauma that her mother is going through not knowing from one day to the next what is going to happen to them.
It is of utmost importance to stop Jumoke being deported to a country that her children don't know, a way of life that is alien to them; they were born here in Britain and even though they are still very young, are therefore more familiar with British life than able to identify with Nigeria.
But most of all, their lives will be in serious danger – even more so now as their mother fled the country, which can't have gone unnoticed by the Nigerian authorities. I know if she gets sent back they will have a miserable existence.
Jumoke and her children have been living in the Kings Heath area of Birmingham, attending Church and Bible classes, she attends her local womens group and is currently enrolled in two community courses, she has fully integrated into community life to make a better life for herself and her children.
'U.S.A: Country Reports on Human Rights Practices - Nigeria 2006
The government's human rights record remained poor, and government officials at all levels continued to commit serious abuses. The most significant human rights problems included; domestic violence and discrimination against women; female genital mutilation (FGM); child abuse and child sexual exploitation; societal violence; ethnic, regional, and religious discrimination; and trafficking in persons for the purposes of prostitution and forced labor'.
Jumoke has suffered from the above atrocities and doesn't want her children to experience the same horrors that she has.
'Children are targets of Nigerian witch-hunt (The Observer, Sunday December 9 2007)
Evangelical pastors are helping to create a terrible new campaign of violence against young Nigerians. Children and babies branded as evil are being abused, abandoned and even murdered while the preachers make money out of the fear of their parents and their communities'.
Elizabeth and Daniella will be branded as evil because of their special needs.
The UK Home Office says it is up to the carrier, whether they carry deportees!
I am concerned that this forced deportation of Jumoke Adediwura and her children Elizabeth and Daniella is a severe breach of justice and their human rights.
Please do not force this family to return to their persecution; by refusing to carry them onboard your flight you are giving them the opportunity to continue the new lives they have built for themselves here, in their Birmingham home within the community they are now part of.
I ask that Virgin Nigeria Airways does not carry out the forced removal.
jumokes campaign have now got an address 4 jumoke, if u want 2 send a message email to jamoke1@hotmail.co.uk and i will post them 2her Posted at 1:53 PM Mar 24, 2008 view more
About me: Thursday March 6th:
Jumoke in gatwick airport
Jumoke and children were awoken at 2am and told to pack, she was taken to gatwick airport arriving at 5.30am and led to the immigration rooms.
I spoke to her throughout the night and morning until her phone went off at 8.30am.
An Immigration officer will travel alongside her and then hand them over to nigerian authorities, from that point no-one knows what will happen to her.
Wednesday March 5th:
Thanks for everybody’s support over the last few months, those who supported Jumoke, Daniella & Elizabeth in any way, commented, faxed or wrote letters, Jumoke appreciated it very much & has asked me to thank you all for taking the time out to support the campaign.
Jumoke has been so overwhelmed by everyone's kindness, generosity and determination, she said it’s something she will never forget.
I know you will all be feeling sad at this time, but hold on to that community spirit and build on it, at least we know we did all we could with the knowledge we had, never lose the determination and desire to make change.
"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has." —Margaret Mead
You all put your heart and soul into trying to overturn the decision to deport the family. It has been a learning curve for us all and has brought out the best in everyone in our community here in Kings Heath Birmingham. Community Action at its best! Community cohesion without any funding pots! God, imagine how much thousands of pounds organisations get for community cohesion and we’ve done it on sheer determination alone in the name of humanity, friendship and justice. I think you should all become consultants to the government on community engagement, community action, community cohesion, tell those men in suits up high how its done.
'Never go backward. Attempt, and do it with all your might. Determination is power.' -
Charles Simmons
“It’s not the critic who counts, not the one who points out how the strong
man stumbled or how the doer of deeds might have done them better.
The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena; whose face is
marred with the sweat and dust and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs
and comes up short again and again; who knows the great enthusiasms, the
great devotions and spends himself in a worthy cause and who, at best
knows the triumph of high achievement and who at worst, if he
fails, at least fails while daring greatly so that his place shall never be with
those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat.”
(Theodore Roosevelt, 1858-1919, 26th US President and 1906 Nobel Peace Prize-winner.)
The moment we begin to fear the opinions of others and hesitate to tell the truth that is in us, and from motives of policy are silent when we should speak, the divine floods of light and life no longer flow into our souls.
- Elizabeth Cady Stanton
When you lose ... look for the positive! Life is full of lessons by virtue of experiences - try to find a positive and learn from each and never lose the lesson ... keep practicing ... keep learning. If you fall down ... find your courage ... challenge yourself and get back up. We all fall, so fall down again ... and get back up until you've mastered the lesson enough to call it "wisdom". Then go out ... be wise and share with another!
If your actions inspire others to dream more,
learn more, do more and become more,
you are a leader.
John Quincy Adams
UPDATE SATURDAY 1ST MARCH:
JUMOKE, DANIELLA & ELIZABETH HAVE ONCE AGAIN BEEN TOOK BY THE IMMIGRATION SNATCH SQUADS & THEY ARE NOW INCARCARATED IN YARLS WOOD DETENTION CENTRE ONCE AGAIN AND ARE DUE TO BE FORCIBLY REMOVED ON VIRGIN NIGERIA AIRWAYS ON THURSDAY 6TH MARCH 2008. LET THE FAXING CAMPAIGN BEGIN. PLEASE SEE MODEL LETTERS IN BLOG TO FAX TO HOME SECRETARY AND CHIEF EXEC OF VIRGIN NIGERIA AIRWAYS. IF YOU DO NOT HAVE ACCESS TO A FAX MACHINE EMAIL THEM TO jamoke1@hotmail.co.uk AND WE WILL FAX THEM FOR YOU. MANY THANKS
Elizabeth and Daniella below at their vigil on friday, 12 hours later they were took from their beds by immigration snatch squads and took with their mother Jumoke to be incarcarated in yarls wood detention centre. If we dont try and stop it they will be deported to Nigeria on thursday.
What child should have to stand out in the wind & rain to beg to stay
Banner round her neck to show her plight is this the only way?
Unfortunately the answer is yes, people have to listen and see
Their only help is from you and me.
This child of 3 cant speak for herself
She cant talk at all she needs our help
Has she special needs or is she traumatised?
From watching her poor mothers daily cries.
This child was born here she has many friends
Now she’s incarcerated in detention, have we come to the end?
No nursery on Monday, just prison for this child
No Mothers day celebrations of any kind.
What kind of country have we become
To allow this distress in one so young
It’s a disgrace to our nation we have to speak out
’Every Child Matters’ - whats that all about!
Every Child Matters: Change for Children is a new approach to the well-being of children and young people from birth to age 19.
The Government's aim is for every child, whatever their background or their circumstances, to have the support they need to:
Be healthy
Stay safe
Enjoy and achieve
Make a positive contribution
Achieve economic well-being
If ‘Every Child Matters‘, what about Elizabeth & Daniella? Don’t they matter?
below jumokes friends at the vigil
BACKGROUND: Our friend Jumoke Adediwura has been detained in Yarl's Wood Detention Centre.She is due to be taken from Yarls Wood to London Gatwick at Midnight Wednesday 5th March and forcibly removed from the UK on Virgin Nigeria Airways Flight (VK292) on Thursday March 6th leaving Gatwick at 10.00hrs to Lagos/Nigeria.
We her friends are trying to stop this from happening. We don't know if we can change the decision but we will leave no stone unturned trying.
Jumoke, has lived in Birmingham for 5 years, she had to leave Nigeria due to the violence she was suffering, she feared for her life constantly. She suffered unspeakable violence at the hands of her Muslim family for her Christian beliefs. We have seen the scars from being beaten with barbed wire.
She also suffered constant domestic violence from the childrens father who she met in the UK. He has since been deported to Nigeria. She has no-one safe to turn to if she returns. She is our friend, she is part of our community, she has done more for community cohesion than any government initiative could ever do, Jumoke has helped bring women together from all different nationalities through the common cause of humanity and justice.
We stand together to help each other and today we are asking you to join us in reaching out to help Jumoke, Daniella (aged 2) & Elizabeth (aged 3). They were both born here in England; they go to nursery with our children.
Elizabeth has special needs and needs the extra support that her special needs teacher can provide. She is currently undergoing assessment at Maas Road Child Development Centre. Daniella has behavioural problems due to witnessing domestic violence and the trauma that her mother is going through not knowing from one day to the next what is going to happen to them.
Jumoke and her children have been torn out of our community, she is distraught, lonely and fearful for her life and that of her children.
We are ordinary women from ordinary families, leading ordinary lives, then suddenly one of our friends are gone, you read about it all the time but when it happens to someone you know, you feel you have to do something. So here we are us ordinary women reaching out to everyone to support our campaign. We are her only hope.
As an asylum seeker she didn't have much, but she had the most important gift of all, friends, she new she wasn't alone, but now she is.
All we can do is try to stop our friend been deported to a country that her children don't know, a way of life that is alien to them, they were born here for gods sake.
We know if she gets sent back that they will have a miserable existence.
'U.S.A: Country Reports on Human Rights Practices - Nigeria 2006
The government's human rights record remained poor, and government officials at all levels continued to commit serious abuses. The most significant human rights problems included; domestic violence and discrimination against women; female genital mutilation (FGM); child abuse and child sexual exploitation; societal violence; ethnic, regional, and religious discrimination; and trafficking in persons for the purposes of prostitution and forced labor'.
Jumoke has suffered from the above atrocities and doesn't want her children to experience the same horrors that she has.
'Children are targets of Nigerian witch-hunt (The Observer, Sunday December 9 2007)
Evangelical pastors are helping to create a terrible new campaign of violence against young Nigerians. Children and babies branded as evil are being abused, abandoned and even murdered while the preachers make money out of the fear of their parents and their communities'.
Elizabeth and Daniella will be branded as evil because of their special needs.
THE GOVERNMENT SAYS 'EVERY CHILD MATTERS'
WHAT ABOUT DANIELLA & ELIZABETH?
Who I'd like to meet: THERE IS NO OVERCROWDING and there would be no overstretched public funds, either, if the government had a fair asylum system! This is what makes this a whole lot worse!
And the public resources would not be stretched if the government would allow asylum seekers to work to earn their keep - would allow them to contribute, rather than making them dependent on the meager handouts which so often leaves them struggling in poverty.
Only 3% of the worlds asylum seekers are in the UK. 70% are in refugee camps in Africa and Asia, places like Darfur, Chad, Democratic Republic of Congo etc.
Europe takes in 22% of the world's refugees, most are absorbed by Sweden and Italy, NOT the UK.
When the government says there is overcrowding and that refugees are too great a strain, then they are using the age old lie which brought in the very first immigration and asylum laws in 1905. At that time it was Jews fleeing the pogrom in Eastern Europe. No-one wanted the responsibility for them.
The people needing our help have changed, but the government's lies haven't.
Overcrowding? The UK population is in DECLINE! Legal immigrants make up 8% of the population AND CONTRIBUTE 10% TO OUR ECONOMY!
If it wasn't for immigrants, we would be looking at an ever older population with no prospects of enough pension contribution by young people to make sure we will have a decent pension to live on. The immigrants are changing this for the better.
The truth is, if the UK isn't prepared for the immigrants, then they would also not have prepared for a totally normal population growth of the British population.
This makes the attempted removal of Jumoke and her kids even worse, because the UK doesn't only have the responsibility to protect vulnerable individuals, but it's totally affordable and sustainable to do so.
The lies of overcrowding and stress on our public funds are lies spread by the BNP. They prey on the fears of ordinary people, which is disgusting and it creates a racist attitude towards immigrants, economic migrants, and worst of all, refugees, who are the most vulnerable of our society.
I am upset and outraged, I am with you and I hate that they have again made a dawn raid on this terrified family. As if they hadn't suffered enough already. And as to keeping children in detention - this wouldn't even be possible, had the UK ratified the right of the child.
Hey, just to let you know we have uploaded tracks from Ali's new solo album Flying High to his myspace, come by and let us know what you think or if you want to pre order you can get it on his myspace page.
Ali will be on tour in the UK from June 19th – July 4th come and see him and his new band live – they are tearing it up, round the country with a great party vibe!
Hello! Our second single ‘Bill Hicks’ is now available for pre-order on download, 7" vinyl and CD.
We are self-managed, self-published, and self-released on our own record label and our debut single "Trauma Town" entered at #9 in the Official UK Indie charts. We're hoping to make this one go even bigger -
Pre-Order MP3 Download from Play.com here: http://www.play.com/Music/MP3-Download-Album/4-/8852713/Bill-Hicks/Product.html
Pre-Order Limited Edtion 7" Vinyl from HMV.com here: http://hmv.com/hmvweb/displayProductDetails.do?ctx=280;-1;-1;-1;-1&sku=938316
Pre-Order Limited Editon CD Single from HMV.com here: http://hmv.com/hmvweb/displayProductDetails.do?ctx=280;-1;-1;-1;-1&sku=938317
Cheers! Al, Jonno, Steve & Nigel.
____________________________
p.s. Join our mailing list or street team at www.thefoxesband.com and receive a free track.
Happy Birthday! I'd like to invite you to my myspace page to download my FREE "Best Of Ryan Huston" 15 song album. You might need some good music to play this weekend!
im dissapointed after not being here for ages to hear the news !!i cant believe this family has been let down by our own country . hope you have ways of keeping in touch with them . jack
Hello jumokes campaign How are you? We just wanted to send along a Big Happy Birthday! hope you have a great day and that you are well and thanks for listening to us. Cheers Raising Days
How are you?? I hope all is well. I was just passing through to see how you were doing, and let you know that I'm doing alright. I hope you do hit me up and let me know how things are with you. I don't mind the messages at all. Be easy and I look forward to hearing from you.
Hi jumokes campaign Hope you're having a good week Just passing through with some new links our new single is out now on vinyl and digi Plays on Radio 1, Kiss, Galaxy and many more respect! love n peace d Vinyl...
have spoke 2 jumoke today and we now have an address and contact number for her so at least we can keep in touch and find out how they are getting on. x
I just read your status and I just wanted to say even though Jumoke was deported back to Nigeria I hope she and her daughters are doing okay and I wish them all the best Best Wishes and Rock On Loot
im so sorry that she got deported. is there any chance that she will be able to come back? I didnt even get to meet her, but we all just have to hope and pray that she and the kids are doing fine over there. i advise you not to asume the worst because she may be doing ok and thats the important thing. hopefully she will be back with us very shortly. we are all still campaigning but obveously we need to do more, so if there is anything that me and my friends can do, please dont hesitite to ask and we will do all in our power to make sure she is safe and sound.
love tammy-leigh xxxx good luck
jumoke, daniella and elizabeth are still in all of our hearts.
lets keep in touch with jumoke, sponsor a cell phone, do what we can to help her and the kids. lets turn our frustration into action.
how can we help?
although a long way away now, in America, i went to school in Kings Heath, and i am awful proud of everything you've done, and the wonderfully compassionate spirit you've all shown.
its what makes brum the big beating heart of england.
RIA! I share your anger about how this government has treated Jumoke and her children.
However, it is essential that you DO VOTE! THAT's where YOU have the power to tell the government that if their immigration and asylum policies are putting real refugees like Jumoke back in danger, you want them OUT and something better IN!
Don't ever stop voting or campaigning, make your voice heard!
Such an injustice. Our gutless government continues to exploit and destroy the lives of good, honourable people. They have no conscience. You are all in my prayers.
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