Responding to anti-migrant protests

Join in with our webinars

The Methodist Church is offering webinars for people in places affected by anti-asylum protests. We will share experiences, concerns and wisdom with others and pray together for justice for people seeking refuge and for peace in our communities. If you are interested, please Email justice@methodistchurch.org.ukfor further details.

With the rise of anti-migrant protests, popular expressions of Christian nationalism, and the “Raise the Colours” movement, how can church leaders, lay or ordained, respond?

At times of pressure, we need to ask: what is mine or ours to do? The guidance below suggests a number of resources and responses based on the experiences of Methodist Churches.

What to do in your local congregation

As a church leader you have a particular role alongside your congregation(s). Members of your congregation may feel scared and threatened by events in your locality; they may be supportive of protests or of politicians speaking out in favour; they may be confused by the use of Christian nationalist tropes.

Encourage critical reflection and thoughtful dialogue

This can be done through bible study, preaching, worship and conversations that engage with current concerns and political debates. Listen deeply, whilst carefully naming Islamophobia, racist language and Christian nationalism for what they are. Instead of wrapping ourselves in flags, talk about what it means to clothe ourselves in Christ.

Facing up to injustice

The Methodist Church is committed to being a justice-seeking church, acting with people seeking asylum, and with people who are experiencing marginalisation in society or other forms of discrimination for justice.

What common ground is there with people who are facing homelessness, or financial exclusion or a struggle for school places, without turning to the false and easy answers of the far right? How can people who may feel alienated know that they are loved to the uttermost by God?

These are tasks for preachers, but also for worship leaders, pastoral visitors, leaders of children and young people groups and others. Could your church or circuit offer online or in person gatherings to encourage or build confidence around preaching or talking together on these issues?

Resources

Politics in the Pulpit?: a weekly lectionary-based preaching resource from the Joint Public Issues Team.

A resource for local preachers’ meetings

An article by Secretary of Conference, Revd Jonathan Hustler 'Challenging the Rise of the Far right'

A letter from Church leaders voicing concerns about community cohesion

MIND THE GAP: Can we build bridges across the political divide? – Joint Public Issues Team

"As Christians from different theological and political backgrounds we stand together against the misuse of Christianity. The cross is the ultimate sign of sacrifice for the other. Jesus calls us to love both our neighbours and our enemies and to welcome the stranger. Any co-opting or corrupting of the Christian faith to exclude others is unacceptable."

Public letter from Christian leaders, including the Methodist President and Vice-President.

What to do in your local community

If your community is experiencing protests or organised demonstrations, how could you respond? This will depend on your context, who you are, who you are alongside, and your collective judgement.

Start with relationships

Relationships - with other churches and faith groups, community groups, statutory agencies – are vital in being aware of what is happening and making wise and sustainable decisions. Draw deeply on existing connections and make new ones to find out intelligence about what is happening in your local area.

If you are a target

You may find yourself a target of local protests because of your support for people seeking asylum. In these cases, review your security and safety measures, liaise with your local authority Community Safety Teams and police, and ensure your Circuit and District offices are aware.

See the HOPE not Hate guide to Staying Safe amidst Far Right Violence.

If you are in a position to offer support

Can you assist faith leaders and groups in your community who may feel marginalized? People from mosques, synagogues, temples, and gurdwaras have expressed how much they appreciate private and public messages of support, and closer relations so that people can reach out in times of urgency.

See Building Good Relations with People of Different Faiths and Beliefs, the code of practice published by the (sadly now defunct) Inter Faith Network.

Similarly if a local hotel or community group is a target of protests, you could find simple ways to support them. Taking flowers and chocolates to staff and residents or offering your building as a place where people can come for respite from protests may be appreciated. (If you open up your building, ensure you have a risk assessment and sufficient people to offer a welcome and keep it safe for visitors.)

Should I join a counter-protest?

If protests are being organised against hotels, counter-protests often also take place in support of refugees. Should you join in? Being part of a peaceful demonstration and witnessing support may feel like an important act of solidarity to take.

For some people, however, this may not be an option. This may be because of accessibility, health, well-being or because attending a protest is of greater risk to some folk than others. If that is the case, then there are other responses.

Before you join a counter-protest, however, there are a number of things to consider:

The spectacle of groups facing off against each other can be traumatizing for asylum seekers who are trapped inside hotels. People who have fled conflict may be traumatized by the noise and anger; participating in a counter-protest may contribute to this.

With what are you associating yourself (and the church)? You might risk being caught up in speeches or chants with which you might disagree or which might use violent language.

Far right activists often film counter-protestors (posing as “independent film makers”). They try to provoke people into intemperate responses, film these and then share on social media. Remain calm, do not engage in argument, and say or do nothing that you would not want shared online.

Protests and counter-protests can be calm, but they can be unpredictable, and may be retraumatizing if you have experienced conflict before. The Methodist Church has offered advice including not going alone, letting people know where you are, being identifiable as a minister (if you are), taking a phone and charger, as well as food and drink in case you end up being kettled/trapped.

Responding to Violent Disorder

Faith-rooted community organising in difficult times

Other forms of Christian witness

Local churches have tried to find other ways of being a Christian, for example:

A prayer witness, a silent presence outside hotels, during demonstrations

A picnic (at which all are welcome)

'Peace Chaplains', showing love for neighbours inside and outside the hotels through sharing cupcakes and listening rather than arguing. Read Al Barrett’s blog on what his church in Hodge Hill did.

Community meals, bringing people together over food, with food cooked by refugees

A walk of witness through a local area

All are welcome?

One local church hosted a new community organisation’s Big Lunch. Protesters turned up at the church. The church, believing that All Are Welcome, invited them in and offered them food being cooked by the community and local refugees. The community group objected to the presence of protesters, which created tensions with the church.

If you are working with wider community groups, discuss your approaches. Do you wish to welcome protestors and seek dialogue? What is the a difference between seeking dialogue with your neighbours, and with far right agitators? How do you do this without making refugees, who might be present in a space, feel unsafe?

Revd Inderjit Bhogal

Taking care of yourself and others

The pressure of these times can be immense, particularly if your own identity makes you feel more exposed. You may wish to ensure that before taking a decision to commit to a particular direction of work, you explore the following questions with your superintendent, supervisor or colleague:

• What needs to be in place for your involvement to be sustainable? Is there enough support available in the system for this to work?
• What is yours to do here – and what can be shared with others?
• Are there alternatives to the kind of activism which involves risk and confrontation?
• What is in place to process what you might experience?

Managing the impact of stress

When we are exposed to situations such as this in addition to our day-to-day responsibilities, we may suffer some of the negative impacts of stress. Even when the activities are meaningful, this will not always guard against exhaustion. Often when adrenaline and cortisol are produced over an extended period, it can lead to us ignoring our bodies’ need to fully rest. We can run the risk of burn-out if we don’t attend to this.

For some tips on completing your stress response cycle, take a look at this practical overview.

As people of faith, we carry within us the knowledge that hope, and resurrection and transformation are possible even in the bleakest of times. May we discern the ways to act which make that hope a reality for others.

Deacon Kerry Scarlett