Bringing disabled women together, mobilising
and sharing through lived experiences
End panel Brexit discussion
SISTERS FRIDA – DISABLED WOMEN’S VOICES FROM THE FRONTLINE
Blackfriars Settlement 9 July 2016
END PANEL DISCUSSION
Panel: Kirsten Hearn, Miss Jacqui, Pauline Latchen, Eleanor Lisney, Becky Olaniyi,
Jagoda Risteska, Jasmina Risteska, Annabel Crowley
Contributers: Michelle Daley, Dyi,
Eleanor introduced an update from Dyi. The Disability and Sexuality project that Djy
and Lani have piloted with an initial meeting last autumn has now got funding to go
ahead. The next meeting will be in July at the New Union Church Hall and thereafter
every month. The project will provide a safe space to discuss issues around
disability and sexuality. More information and details are listed on the Sisters of
Frida website.
Annabel noted that the day had involved lots of interesting and powerful
conversations. The Brexit vote had provided a focus for discussion: the situation
was already difficult before we faced leaving the European Union and things will be
likely to get more difficult: now is the time to make sure we have a voice.
Eleanor commented that if she had not been at this event, she would have been at
Conway Hall to support a rally of Black Activists Against Racism to protest against
spending cuts. As she was unable to attend that rally, Eleanor had written a letter of
support and solidarity which she read out.
Annabel asked everyone what were their concerns in the light of Brexit.
Becky said that she felt there was not a lot of clear information about Brexit,
especially for young people; they should have had an opportunity to contribute and
make decisions. Older people believed that leaving the EU would mean that the
money saved would be paid into the NHS etc. Young people had mainly voted to
remain in the EU but were not really clear why – and people needed to be clear
about that.
Dyi raised the issue of being an EU citizen living in the UK going forward. We need
to think about the reality of that situation, for example in relation to people’s status
with the NHS. This is a real issue for EU citizens in the UK who rely on the NHS –
though of course it may be different for those who don’t. However, Dyi pointed out,
there is also a lot of inequality in relation to healthcare within the rest of the EU.
Annabel asked if Dyi would be looking for wider consultation with EU migrants to
have more information about the implications of Brexit for them. Dyi replied that she
is looking into the legal implications and building up an information bank on relevant
services as a resource which she will be happy to share with others.
Michelle said that we don’t know what the future will look like. She had voted to
remain in the EU, and there was not, had not been, enough information about what
Brexit would look like, or how our lives will be changed by it.
Kirsten said that the whole Brexit campaign had been based on lies, especially about
the NHS and migration. Secondly, all the years of austerity have influenced people,
especially poorer people: these people see migrants and refugees as competing with
them for jobs, services and benefits and these myths are further spread by
politicians, who paint migrants as lazy scroungers. Migrants enrich our country,
however, and it is not true that all migrants come to Britain to claim benefits rather
than to work. Kirsten said that in her local community there has been an increase in
racial hate crime and that the referendum result is advisory rather than mandatory
and parliament should act accordingly. The government should now consider what
things can stay the same and what should change: for example things like
wheelchair spaces on buses and braille labelling, these sorts of things should stay.
Michelle said that when her parents came to the UK, there were signs in public
spaces saying ‘No dogs, no Irish, no Blacks’ and we are going back to those days
and with the same discrimination against disabled people.
Miss Jacqui said that the people who had voted to leave didn’t really know what they
were voting for. Whatever political party is in power, disabled people – disabled
women especially, will be at the bottom of the agenda. Politicians don’t consider
that the decisions they make now will still affect us in ten years’ time. Starting a new
political party is the only solution. She was not happy with David Cameron as prime
minister but is not happy at what may follow his resignation. We need to find and
develop our voice and consider where does it feel safe to talk.
Becky said so many politicians are leaving their jobs, and Michelle said it was their
job to have a plan (going forward). Becky said politicians exist in a bubble, all this
doesn’t affect them, they don’t think: it’s about the money they can make, the secret
deals and they only think about what affects them. Kirsten said she felt quite
depressed now.
Annabel said we do have voices however we express ourselves. How do we build
and expand on safe spaces to express ourselves? Kirsten said that we need to talk
to the communities that voted for Brexit, especially poor people, people who are
alienated. She is trying to talk to people in her street who voted leave, to try to
understand why they did – we haven’t listened to them in the past. One issue is
employment: people going for jobs, not that skilled, which go to migrants: ‘They’re
taking our jobs’. That, and well qualified people paid low wages for jobs they’re over-
qualified for and all the time the right-wing press reinforce the view that migrants are
to blame.
Dyi said that there is a history of colonialism, racism and imperialism and we should
consider what Sisters of Frida can do to support each other. Annabel said we should
consider what resources – communities and spaces – we can build on and share.
Pauline said that wages are being driven down but it’s not the fault of migrant
workers: low wages here are better than what’s on offer in their own countries. We
should blame the government and business owners, not the migrants. Miss Jacqui
said that some people are really picky about what jobs they will take: if you really
want a job you’ll take anything, you will find a job. Blaming migrants is just an
excuse. Michelle said the government is using a tactic of divide, rule and conquer
and what happened in the referendum is just history repeating itself.
In conclusion, Annabel said the discussion could continue on line: this is one way we
can add disabled women’s voices to the discussion. Maybe there could be a Brexit
forum page on the SOF website; a lot of disability rights have come from the EU and
therefore the discussion could link in disabled friends in Europe.
All present were invited to pass on their email addresses to receive further updates.
[…] notes from discussion […]