On Saturday, 4th June, a group which calls itself “South Coast Resistance” plans to protest in Brighton against refugees. They say they are opposed to our city hosting any refugees whilst British people are homeless.

We represent local organisations and individuals who live and work in Brighton & Hove. We are proud to live in a city that is not only tolerant of diversity, but actively celebrates it, regardless of need, creed, colour, (dis)ability, sexual orientation or gender. Many of us are looking forward to doing just that at the Kemptown Carnival on Saturday.  Brighton and Hove is a City of Sanctuary, known as “Sanctuary on Sea”, that believes in welcoming refugees and asylum seekers and was the first place in the South East to offer a home to Syrian refugees on the vulnerable persons scheme.  

We believe in bringing people together to address local needs, particularly those of vulnerable

people, and to embrace our diverse communities. We are against any speech or activities that foster division, blame or hatred.

South Coast Resistance and its like may say it is exercising its right to free speech. But freedom of speech comes with a duty to use it for peace and the common good. We say to them and to any similar organisation, any attempt to divide people and spread hatred is not in our name.  You do not represent our views and you are not welcome in Brighton or Hove.

Organisations (in order of signing)

Sanctuary on Sea

Kemptown Carnival

Crossing Borders Festival

Hummingbird Project

English Disco Lovers

Brighton Migrant Solidarity

Sussex Centre for Cultural Studies

Brighton & Hove Green Party

Global Justice Now, Brighton and Hove

Refugee Support Europe

Best Foot Music

Individuals

Caroline Lucas MP  

Peter Kyle MP

Councillor Pete West, Mayor of Brighton and Hove

Woodrow Faulkner

Viviana Coston, Associate Tutor, University of Sussex

Professor Lyla Mehta, Institute of Development Studies

Dr James Hampshire, University of Sussex

Dr Naureen Durrani, University of Sussex

Sylvie Collier

Jenny Lansdell

Janee Sa

Jodie Jones

Bella Kosmala

Steven Patterson

Siriol Hugh-Jones

Cathy Maxwell

Elaine Ortiz

Vivian Vignoles

Reima Ana Maglajlic

Jessica Yudilevich

Adam Bates

John Drury

Rob Byrne

John Pryor

Tom Frost

Andrea Brock, University of Sussex

John Child

Sharon Lambley

Councillor Phélim Mac Cafferty (Green)

Anneke Newman

Suraj Lakhani

Roger Phillips

Vy Rajapillai,.

Jasper Chalcraft

Angie Lynn

Kate O’Riordan, University of Sussex

Luke Martell

Fr. David  

Councillor Alex Phillips (Green)

Peter Samuels

Claudia Cerrina

Katy Joyce, University of Sussex

Charlotte Taylor

James McMurray, University of Sussex

Susan Lawrence

Cllr Dick Page

Tom Bassford

Polly Hofmann

Hannah Taylor

Martin Ryle, University of Sussex

Shirley Jaffe

Sue Sullivan, University of Sussex

Mitch Alexander ‘Moulsecoomb and Bevendean Green Team’

Cllr Louisa Greenbaum (Green)

Sue Currell, University of Sussex

Julia Sutherland

Erica Consterdine, University of Sussex

Louise Roddon

Dominic Kniveton, University of Sussex

Carmen Leon-Himmelstine, University of Sussex

Reinhard Schweitzer, University of Sussex

Councillor Ollie Sykes (Green)

Sanj Choudhury

Dave Baker

Aoife McDonald

Ulla Spittler

Catherine Will

Jordan Raine, University of Sussex

Professor Ben Rogaly, University of Sussex

Rachel Chan, St John’s Church

Professor JoAnn McGregor, University of Sussex

Susan Leckey

Dr. Giuseppe Maggio, University of Sussex

Ruth Hilton

Jane Bartlett

Sharon Krummel, University of Sussex

Cllr Leo Littman (Green)

Anna Stavrianakis

Luis de Juan, University of Sussex

Dr. Jacob Berkson

Prof Paul Statham, University of Sussex  

Prof Sally R Munt, University of Sussex

Tom Beament  

Catherine Senger, University of Sussex  

Jim Grozier

Rosa Weeks, University of Sussex

Ramona Brunzell

Pamela Kea, University of Sussex

Barbara Einhorn, Emeritus Professor of Gender Studies, University of Sussex

Dr Paul Oestreicher, former Quaker Chaplain, University of Sussex

Gemma  Cobb, University of Sussex

Sue Shanks, Brighton & Hove Green Party

Rebecca Prentice, University of Sussex

Herbie Flowers, musician

Helen Claire Lacey

Monika Richards

James Turner, University of Sussex

Rev. Christopher McDermott, Lead Chaplain, University of Sussex

Prof Thomas Nowotny, University of Sussex

John Watters

Simon Williams, University of Sussex

Natalia Cecire, University of Sussex

Councillor Lizzie Deane (Green)

Dawn Blake University of Life

Corinna Schäfer, University of Sussex

Rachelle Stowell

Bob Wright

Sam Watkins

Chloe Porter, University of Sussex

Paul Harvey

Ann Light

Davy Jones

Meriel Beattie

Jeremy Yelland, WSAPC

Joseph Nhan-O’Reilly

Mareike Beck, University of Sussex

Phati Mnguni, Visual Artist

Irene Fubara-Manuel

Richard Williams, Chair, Sanctuary on Sea

Tanya Palmer

Prof. Maria Roth-Lauret, University of Sussex

Jeremy Page, University of Sussex

Lucy Finchett-Maddock, University of Sussex

Laila Kadiwal University of Sussex

Councillor David Gibson (Green)

FRACK FREE SUSSEX

Brighton Action Against Fracking

Simran Rogaly

Maude Casey

Morten Sjaastad

Jenny Money

Martin Todd

Rev Andy Lowe Hove Methodist Church

Merlin Matthews

Mark Doidge

Paul Hutchings, Refugee Support Europe

Paul Bonett’s Estate Agents

Tony Kalume

Cllr Emma Daniel