Windrush Day 2020
Today, Monday 22 June, marks the second-ever Windrush Day, a day which commemorates the Windrush Generation and their legacy. Today is a fairly new celebration, having only started in 2018.
Gorilla group used this as an opportunity to work on their Asdan award about their wider understanding of history by learning about ‘the Windrush generation’
But it’s also a chance to show solidarity and support for the hardships many have had to suffer since coming to the country. The day started in 2018 and falls on the anniversary of the Empire Windrush arriving at Tilbury Docks in 1948, bringing with it several hundreds of passengers. The first generation of workers came to the UK by invitation to help rebuild Britain after World War II but many were met with hostility and intolerance when they arrived.
In the years and decades that followed, many found themselves denied rights, lost their jobs and in some cases were even deported back to places they barely knew. The day is being celebrated with a variety of community events across the country – many of which have had to go online, as a result of the ongoing lockdown. Lambeth Council in London has asked residents to decorate their doorsteps and windows to show their gratitude and respect. Their website states: ‘We want to make Windrush Day 2020 an extraordinary collective event for the community despite the restrictions of lockdown and social distancing.
