EUROCITIZENS ORGANISE PROTEST ABOUT THE FAILURE OF THE UK GOVERNMENT TO PROTECT ITS OWN CITIZENS

One point of the long vigil  Photo: EuroCitizens

EuroCitizens held a 27 hour vigil to mark the second anniversary of the referendum on UK membership of the European Union. During the vigil, which lasted for 27 hours and coincided with the People’s Vote march in London, British citizens protested at the continued uncertainty for their livelihood, and at the fact that citizens’ rights are clearly not a priority for their government, following the agreement struck between the UK Government and the European Commission last March on the UK´s withdrawal from the European Union.
 
The vigil began with a speech by journalist and writer Giles Tremlett, who shared the despair that many British citizens feel: “Today we are gathered outside the British Embassy, but the sad truth is that many of us do not know whether it is practical for us to remain British citizens. If we apply for Spanish nationality, that means forcing people to renounce British nationality and if that happens, rather than allowing us to continue our lives as before, the UK government will have expelled us from our status as British citizens – and that would cast shame on them.”
 
Members of EuroCitizens delivered a letter for the British government to the Ambassador, which in his absence was received by Tim Hemmings, Deputy Head of Mission. Laura Clyde, a British freelance professional with two children, who handed the letter over, highlighted that “Two years after the referendum, many of our questions about our rights essential for our livelihood, are still unanswered. We are living in a state of anxious uncertainty about what will happen to us. Suddenly, the rights, freedoms, guarantees and privileges afforded to us by the UK’s membership of the EU, and upon which we have based our lives in another EU member state, are under threat: these rights may be taken away from us - without our consent - and with no clear picture of what they will be replaced with."
 
John Carrivick, VicePresident of EuroCitizens, concluded “Today is a sad day when we mourn not only the loss of rights and a way of life but also the inability of the British government to protect its own citizens and a European Union that could not keep faith with its own essence”. 

You can read John's speech in full here:

http://thediplomatinspain.com/en/brexit-crossroads-citizens-europe/ 

More photos:

LA VIGILIA DE EUROCITIZENS ANTE LA EMBAJADA BRITÁNICA

Un grupo de manifestantes ante la embajada  Foto: EuroCitizens

Ciudadanos británicos en España celebraron una vigilia en el segundo aniversario del referéndum sobre el Brexit. Durante la vigilia, que duró 27 horas y coincidió con la marcha “People’s Vote” en Londres, protestaron contra la incertidumbre que perjudica sus vidas y la probable pérdida de sus derechos en el borrador del Acuerdo de Salida entre el RU y la UE, publicado en marzo de 2018.
La vigilia empezó con un discurso del periodista y escritor Giles Tremlett, quien compartió la desesperación que sienten muchos británicos “Hoy nos hemos reunido delante de la Embajada Británica, pero la triste verdad es que muchos no sabemos si tiene sentido práctico seguir siendo ciudadanos británicos. Si solicitamos la nacionalidad española, nos obliga a renunciar la británica y en ese caso, en vez de poder mantener nuestras vidas como antes, el gobierno británico nos habrá “expulsado” como ciudadanos de su país, y eso es vergonzoso para un gobierno”.
Miembros de EuroCitizens, una asociación que defiende los derechos de británicos en España y de europeos en el Reino Unido, entregó una carta dirigida al gobierno británico a su embajador en España, representado por Tim Hemmings, Ministro Consejero de la Embajada. Laura Clyde, una profesional autónoma con dos hijos, señaló “Dos años después del referéndum, muchas de las preguntas sobre nuestros derechos siguen sin respuesta. Vivimos con gran incertidumbre y ansiedad respecto a qué será de nosotros. Los derechos, libertades, garantías y privilegios que supone la ciudadanía europea,  y bajo cuyo amparo hemos hecho nuestras vidas en otro Estado Miembro de la UE, se ven amenazados. Podemos perder estos derechos – sin haber podido participar en el referéndum – y no hay claridad respecto a nuestra situación futura.”
John Carrivick, VicePresidente de EuroCitizens, concluyó “Hoy es un día triste, cuando lamentamos no solo la pérdida de nuestros derechos y un modo de vivir, sino también la incapacidad, tanto del gobierno británico de proteger a sus propios ciudadanos, como la de la Unión Europea a mantenerse fiel a su propia esencia.”

http://thediplomatinspain.com/brexit-o-la-encrucijada-de-la-europa-de-los-ciudadanos/

ALL-NIGHT VIGIL FOR CITIZENS' RIGHTS IN MADRID

From 12 noon on Friday 22 June until 3pm on Saturday 23 June, EuroCitizens will be organising a vigil below the British Embassy in Madrid (near Torre Espacio, Castellana 259) to ask the UK government to defend our citizens' rights which are under threat in the draft Withdrawal Agreement between the EU and the UK (freedom of movement, professional qualifications, family reunification, economic rights, political rights). 

Permission for the vigil has been applied for and the protest will at all times be good-humoured and well-mannered. We know that we are not going to get huge crowds, but we would like to have as many people as possible throughout the 27 hours of the vigil to show the strength of feeling of UKinEU citizens who have already suffered nearly two years of uncertainty and face losing key rights.

You can sign up for shifts at the vigil here:

https://doodle.com/poll/6u5z6mdh2s5fi2yz#table

Here is a rough timetable of events:

Friday 22 June

12 noon - demo begins

13.30 - speech by journalist and writer Giles Tremlett

14:00 - letter/s of protest to be presented to the Ambassador 

14:00 - 20:00: demonstration continues with core presence

20:00 -  'Protest Picnic/Citizens' Rights supper' with speeches by (tbc) and music. People bring their own food.

12:00 - All-night vigil begins, continuing to start of events the next day.

Saturday 23 June

12 noon - full demo starts again with video connection with the rally in London / possible link-up with groups in other countries.

2pm - speech by (tbc)

3pm - End of vigil, possible laying of a wreath symbolising the death of UKinEU citizens' rights

We hope to get musicians to come along at the high points. If you know any (or are one yourself) or would like to volunteer to help the vigil team, get in touch with Laura Clyde at: citizensrightsvigilmadrid@gmail

William Clarke has organised a T-shirt for the vigil which you can order here:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfWIa6Nb8GhJ2jIkEjBGESBAAI3aP59MK5hdeSyQXSSce5koA/viewform?c=0&w=1

Some of us will be in London at the demonstration for a People's Vote on Saturday 23 when we will march with British in Europe for Citizens' Rights (this was organised a while back). Get in touch with me at eurocitizens2016@gmail.com if you can be there - and we will arrange to meet up.

Please sign up for the vigil and share with as many friends and colleagues as possible.