Residents and activists have come together this weekend to show support for a woman who was terrorised out of her home by racists at a socially-distanced rally.
Debora Kayembe has said racially motivated attacks she's suffered in her home town of Bonnyrigg we’re 'like Alabama in 1964' – a heartland of racist hate during the Civil Rights Movement.
Debora is a prolific human rights lawyer who was forced to relocate to Scotland from the Congo after her investigation into a massacre of woman and children caused a backlash that meant she wasn’t safe.
Bonnyrigg residents, trade unions, activists and Black Lives Matter campaigners came together on Saturday (August 15) to show support for Debora and her family after she went public about the racist abuse she’d received living in the town.
Single mum-of-two Debora, who lives in Bonnyrigg with her two teenage children, told the Record last month that her life here has been plagued by disgusting racist abuse on a regular basis, even forcing her to recently abandon her home in a bid to escape her tormentors.
"One night, a mob of 10 teenagers stood outside our home and chanted 'Go home! Go home!'” she said.
She added: “She said: "My daughter was once called 'ebola soup' and my son's class chanted 'n****r' in his face."
Danielle Rowley, the former Labour MP for Midlothian attended the rally, she said Debora was an asset to the community who would not face racism alone.
In a Facebook post she said: “Yesterday I joined an anti-racism protest in Bonnyrigg, to show solidarity with Debora Kayembe, her family, and anyone else who has experienced racism here in Midlothian.
“Debora is a local woman and an asset to our community, and I am angry and ashamed that her family have faced such horrible experiences here. But they have not faced them alone.
“Those who try to spread fear and hate are the minority. They will not win.
“Some people think there is no racism in Midlothian. I wish that were true, but just listening to Debora, and to other people who have shared experiences, it’s clear racial prejudice is active. But it doesn’t need to be this way."
“It was inspiring to hear stories from other communities where people have joined together to drive out racism. We need education, compassion and solidarity.
“Not one local politician turned up to this event. No MP or MSP. But we don’t need politicians to tell us what we already know. The community is united, and together we can show people that the only thing not welcome in Midlothian is racist hatred.
“We stand with Debora.”
