Hundreds in Downing Street protest at racist attack on Polish biker.
Last week hundreds of UK-based Eastern Europeans and their supporters staged a protest in Downing Street following a racially motivated attack on a Polish motorcyclist in East London.
The demonstrators are concerned that xenophobic remarks by politicians from all parties are stoking racist sentiments against Eastern Europeans living in the UK - and putting them at risk.
“We wanted to say to politicians that we don’t overuse the benefits system, we would be fine with some changes to the benefit systems, as long as we're treated equally to the British.
“Polish people I know work and pay tax,” said Izabela Bak, of the Polish Bikers Forum.
She cited research from University College London which found that people from the European Economic Area (EEA) contribute 34 per cent more in taxes to the UK economy than they 'take' in benefits.
"We decided to do something about it because today it was our colleague but tomorrow it could be me or you.
“I myself have on my motorcycle a sticker saying ‘Polish Biker’. I would like to feel safe keeping it where it is.
“We are being pointed at as a nation of cheaters. People think we are taking their jobs. I don’t agree with that.
“There are many jobs around available. If somebody wants to work, I don’t see a problem.
“Poles come to the UK often without any connections and without knowing English language well enough.
How possibly could we take jobs from any British person?
“I think the law should be changed but everyone should be treated equally. It doesn’t matter where you are from,” she concluded.
Ella Vine, of the advice centre Help for Poles in the UK Foundation supported last Monday’s demonstration although she was not one of the organisers.
She says she has dealt with hundreds of families who are she believes placed in a very difficult situation because of negative media portrayal and discriminatory remarks made by politicians.
“EU citizens are very often refused benefits when they go through assessments.
“In most cases they are entitled to benefits but officials make it very hard,” she said.
“Loss of benefits can trigger evictions, as they can’t afford to pay their rent and the appeals process can take years,” she said.
Vine believes that lack of access to benefits can mean that women find themselves trapped in violent relationships, especially if they have young children.
She said that when they try to claim benefits they are told they have ‘no recourse to public funds’.
"One woman I was working with had a 2 year-old child. She was refused a place in a refuge.
"She told me she was thinking of taking her daughter and jumping from a bridge. You don’t hear any of this from politicians,” said Vine.
Vine has also launched a petition calling on all politicians to end racism, discrimination and segregation.
Bak said that although she and her friends have never experienced racism personally, she feels that the words of David Cameron have caused some racial attacks and could cause more.
EU citizens working in the UK are currently able to claim child benefit, even if their children live abroad.
But Cameron said recently that this was unsustainable and migrants should not be motivated to come to the UK by higher benefits payments.
Polish ministers reacted angrily to the comments, the BBC reported. Writing on Twitter, foreign minister Radoslaw Sikorski said: "If Britain gets our taxpayers, shouldn't it also pay their benefits?"
Bak said, “In Belfast there were seven incidents in ten days. A gang threw stones at the windows of the houses where Polish people lived.
"There have been a few instances in London as well."
“I have always felt welcome here. I think most people like us and we like them. But the media and politicians should think twice before they offend any nation."
Photo by Guy Corbishley used with permission © 2014.
Story published in Women's Views on News, 4 March 2014
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