On September 14th, 2024, I had the privilege of representing the Decolonial Center at the Abolition and Decolonization Organizing Day, a full-day event hosted in collaboration with the Migrants Rights Network and Civic Leicester. This gathering felt like an old-school conciousness raising event. It brought together local communities in the aftermath of racist riots that had swept across the country, providing a space to explore concepts like abolition and decolonisation.
The event was particularly powerful as it united people from diverse religious, cultural, and ethnic backgrounds. It was inspiring to witness how the framework of decolonization offered a common language for participants to make sense of their experiences and bridge divides in a city that has historically seen tensions among migrant communities.
Our new friends residing in Leicester in a peer to peer working session reflecting on their experiences and how colonialism has played a role in their story.
One of the most striking aspects of the day was the opportunity to step outside the London bubble. The demographics in Leicester were noticeably different from previous workshops held in East London. We had a rich mix of attendees, including people from refugee backgrounds, migrantised individuals, Muslims, Christians, people from the Caribbean, and those of South Asian descent.
Throughout the day, we engaged in complex and open discussions that proved to be transformative. The event, supported by the Disrupt Foundation, provided free lunch and refreshments, and we worked closely with the Highfield Center. It was particularly enlightening to hear from the director of the Highfield Center, who shared his experiences as a veteran of anti-racist struggles in the 70s and 80s, offering valuable insights into the history of community relations in Leicester.
The perspectives shared by refugees were especially illuminating. Many demonstrated a deep understanding of how colonialism relates to their migration journeys. When posed with questions about the connection between colonialism and migration, the consensus in the room was clear – the two are inextricably linked. One participant eloquently expressed how decoloniality and anti-colonialism could be the key to overcoming divisions between religions and communities that are often pitted against each other.
We also took time to reflect on earlier periods in British history when anti-colonialism served as a unifying framework for diverse groups. The day included creative activities such as zine-making, and I had the opportunity to attend the Migrants Rights Network’s impactful ‘Words Matter’ workshop, which complemented our ‘Why Are We Here?’ session perfectly.
This Abolition and Decolonization Organizing Day on September 14th, 2024, was a testament to the power of bringing communities together under the banner of decolonization. It highlighted the ongoing relevance of these discussions in addressing contemporary challenges and building bridges between diverse groups in our society.
