I salute Griff Ferris, Rivka Micklethwaite and Callum Lynch (We took direct action against the UK’s racist policies, and a jury acquitted us. Resistance can succeed, 16 June). Their article was emotional for me as my partner was on a deportation flight in 2017 and we had succumbed to the sorrow of a long separation and co-parenting online, when the unimaginable happened. Some people (now referred to as the Stansted 15) locked themselves around the flight and it couldn’t take off. All passengers were returned to Yarl’s Wood immigration removal centre.
The Home Office was later found not to have acted in accordance with the law, and my partner was granted leave to remain. Months later when we heard that the Stansted 15 were charged with terrorism and found guilty, our hearts sank. Thankfully, their case, like ours, was successfully appealed.
I had long thought that reason prevailed in this society thanks to philosophical theories. It has since become clear to me that it is due to people demanding change by direct action, from the matchgirls’ strike to Extinction Rebellion protests.
Koye Adebakin
Liverpool
• Have an opinion on anything you’ve read in the Guardian today? Please email us your letter and it will be considered for publication in our letters section.
