Thread by @monlouhawk

Why does the #DeniedMyVote legal challenge still matter, and why are we sincerely urging you to help reach our crowdfunder target?

Let me connect some very important and highly relevant dots.

crowdjustice.com/case/discrimin…

TLDR:

"You are our friends, neighbours and colleagues, and we want you to stay"

Except we'll make your life difficult, chuck extra obstacles in your way, will give you settled status but will keep checking other stuff so you don't feel toooo settled.

This case can HELP.

First, a bit of background:

during the European Elections in May last year, thousands of EU citizens told us:

"I was #DeniedMyVote".

They were turned away at the ballot box, simply because they had not submitted an extra form that only they had to submit.

In most cases they had not submitted that extra form because they didn't know they had to, or because they did know but couldn't return it within the ridiculously tight timescales - often only being sent the form after the deadline had expired.

However, the point of this thread is that I want to explain why the #DeniedMyVote case is not JUST about acknowledging the injustice of those denied their vote at the ballot box last year – essential though that is, because democracy really matters.

The case is also fundamentally about systemic discrimination of groups of citizens - in this case EU citizens who have made the UK our home - often for decades.

We've been told - again and again and again - that we are this country's friends, neighbours and colleagues and this country wants us to stay.

However how is that working out in practice?

"You are our friends, neighbours and colleagues, and we want you to stay"

But if you want to vote there's an EXTRA form JUST YOU have to fill in. We won't make it particularly obvious that you need to do it. We won't let you do it at the ballot box.

crowdjustice.com/case/discrimin…

"You are our friends, neighbours and colleagues, and we want you to stay"

But if you want benefits when we take away your job during lockdown, there's EXTRA (hard to satisfy) hoops we'll ask you to jump through even though we've just granted you a status to stay in the country.

"You are our friends, neighbours and colleagues, and we want you to stay"

But if you want to become a British citizen we won't see your settled status as enough, but instead will ask you for proof of an EXTRA health insurance we never told you about at the time.

"You are our friends, neighbours and colleagues, and we want you to stay"

But if you are stuck abroad during COVID-19 we won't let you board our repatriation flights EVEN IF WE HAVE SEATS SPARE, even if we gave you settled status.

"You are our friends, neighbours and colleagues, and we want you to stay"

But YOU will have to go through a complex online process each and every time you apply for a job, rent a flat or prove your rights. (Note: Brits and non-EU citizens can show a passport or residence card)

The government says they want us to stay, and they give us an immigration status.

But what they give with one hand, they seem to restrict or take away with the other.

The thread above gives you just a few examples of the systemic discrimination we need to address.

It's not just about last year's election. This case can set legal precedents which will HELP us.

Please support @the3million and pledge generously if you can.

We have a great case ready but can't proceed without protection against potential govt costs.

crowdjustice.com/case/discrimin…

Some PS tweets for those of you who want some references:

on thousands of EU citizens being denied their vote on 23 May 2019:

theguardian.com/politics/2019/…

on EU citizens being given a status to remain in the UK but then being told this is not a 'right to reside' when they need help:

theguardian.com/society/2020/a…

and

t3m.org.uk/PreSettledStat…

on EU citizens being given settled status yet potentially having their citizenship applications refused:

freemovement.org.uk/it-just-got-mo…

on EU citizens not being eligible for repatriation to their home when COVID-19 struck:

europestreet.news/stranded-abroa…

and

t3m.org.uk/HASC_submissio…

on EU citizens wanting physical documents to prove their rights yet being the only group of citizens to be given a digital-only status:

t3m.org.uk/PhysicalDocume…

and

t3m.org.uk/DigitalOnlySta…