Napier Solidarity Festival
This weekend saw the Festival of Solidarity for residents at Napier Barracks in Kent. A coalition of grass-roots groups and individuals from across the South came together to show unity, friendship and provide practical support to those being housed in disused army barracks that have been declared ‘unlivable’ and ‘unfit for purpose’.
The day was one to remember, with around 500 people coming together from groups like Sisters Uncut, Black Lives Matter UK, Lesbians And Gays Support the Migrants, Cooperation Town and Humans For Rights Network as well as people from the local community and beyond.
Human rights and advocacy groups ran stalls giving access to lawyers, doctors and ‘Know Your Rights Training’. There was a ‘Free Shop’, a pop-up barbers, and workshops around ESOL, community organising, how to speak to the press, and even t-shirt printing too. People from all walks of life standing side by side to demand that the home office close the camps and treat asylum seekers with the dignity and respect that they deserve.
In September 2020 the Home Office began to house asylum seekers at two former Ministry of Defence sites at Penally training camp in Pembrokeshire, Wales and at Napier Barracks in Kent, England (‘the barracks’). The barracks were said to have been acquired in order to expand the provision of ‘contingency’ accommodation to meet the increased need for asylum housing during COVID-19.
We spoke to Amir, a former resident of Napier Barracks. After moving out a few months ago, he now dedicates all of his time to supporting the current residents. After braving the dangerous journey to the UK after having to flee from Iran, Amir “lived in the camp for nearly 4 months”. After a huge amount of campaigning from inside and outside of the camp, including residents hunger striking and pressure from human rights groups and lawyers, to get the residents out, Amir and other asylum seekers in the Barracks were moved out into dispersal accommodation.
However, despite the outrage and controversy surrounding the barracks, new residents were swiftly moved in once it had been cleaned. Amir spoke on how the “Unsuitable, unhygienic accommodation like Napier barracks” caused him and those around him “so much pain.” He contracted Covid-19 and was unable to socially distance himself and access proper medical care.
They were told they would only be there for a short amount of time but the months rolled on and Amir “and other residents there were ignored and questions always remained unanswered.” Amir is adamant that “the UK government is wasting so much money and energy just to look tough by sacrificing vulnerable asylum seekers lives and well-being. We all would like the Home Office to see us as human beings and treat us in a humane way.”
On the day, despite the heavy rain we laughed together, danced together, played sports, ate delicious food supplied by Refugee Community Kitchen and shared music from around the world. Dancing in the sunshine is easy, dancing in the rain shows true resilience and is a sign of the amazing energy everyone was feeling!
Amir told us that he felt that “the event was a success. The residents were really happy and thanked us for making it happen. They had been feeling really hopeless but the day of action showed them the community loves and supports them. It also showed the Home Office that not all the people in the UK agree with their approach.”
“It was so nice to be able to hang out and have fun with the residents! I love meeting people from different countries and sharing stories and experiences. I met a guy from Eritrea who was the same age as me. He was hilarious, an amazing dancer and loved reading… we had a lot in common and it was so fun to chat. He’d not been in the Barracks for very long and was already feeling really depressed. There is no privacy, I’ve heard so many stories of the guys being unable to sleep because their bedrooms are split with thin curtains. They can’t even have private phone calls.” - quote from attendee and volunteer.
https://www.closethecamps.uk/find-out-more-napier-barracks
Written by Hermione Berendt and photos by Natasa Leoni
