on the morning train to Glasgow. There are Kurdish refugees from Iran here, going down to Glasgow for their interview. They're anxious, not just because the interview may well determine their whole future, but also because phone and internet service has been cut. They have no idea if their parents or partners--the people for whom they have made this risky journey-- are still alive. Oh, and they were shivering cold. A thin hoodie doesn't do much against January dark bleak mornings in Scotland.

Fortunately the train guard is welcoming and made sure they were safe. Not everyone here is so human.

#refugee #welcome #sanctuary #NewScots

Storytellers, musicians, scholars, tradespeople. Why the diverse Syrians of Scotland are staying here.

scottishrefugeecouncil.org.uk/syrian-refugees-tell-fm-our-childrens-futures-are-here

#NewScots #Scotland #Refugees

As so often with the Joyous Choir, as well as their superb musicality and singing, it was the sheer energy and determination of their songs of resilience, survival and hope that gave everyone goosebumps.

My Long Read today #NewScots #UnescoTrail ⁦

https://www.thenational.scot/culture/24570479.using-power-song-help-connect-communities/

In 2024, I asked "Why have there been *no* fascist riots in #Scotland so far?"

We now live with weekly xenophobic protests in several Scottish cities.

We still work very hard to make #NewScots safe.

From 2021-4 I worked with local government, the third sector, universities, and Scottish government on this : https://newscots.scot .

We are held up as an example by UNHCR of how to promote welcoming, trauma-informed integration. And it sort of works, even if it's unfunded. There is really awful white nationalist #racism in Scotland - nonetheless, attitudes here are more open and welcoming than in England. But it requires a continuous, thoughtful commitment across all layers of society. It isn't a "natural feature" of Scotland. We achieve this - and now that xenophobic, fearty politics is being normalised, we have to work much harder.

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Just so folks outside the UK understand: the fascists are rioting in England and Northern Ireland. There are no riots in Scotland.

#NewScots #RefugeesWelcomeHere #Scotland

Hey ho. If anyone happens to have a connection to channels through which folks might organise collectively to resist imminent deport-to-Rwanda raids on asylum seekers across Scotland, or indeed elsewhere in the UK, that might be useful information to post.

#Scotland #NewScots #solidarity

Poll for folks who are non-British immigrants to #Scotland.

Do you know what a "foam banana" is?

(please boost for coverage)

#NewScots

This guff in The Spectator is pejorative and offensive.

Plenty of room here indeed to welcome those fleeing persecution, war, and trauma, to seek safety and peace. Plenty of room here to welcome diverse new Scots as colleagues, classmates, neighbours, friends... 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 💙 🌏
#RefugeesAreWelcomeHere #RefugeesWelcome #ImmigrantsWelcome #diversitywelcome #StanduptoRacism #NewScots #Scotland