Vigil held in city centre to remember Channel deaths

On Wednesday 24th November, in one of the worst incidents since 2014, 27 migrants lost their lives trying to cross the Channel. The group, who were travelling from Calais to Dover, were crammed onto a small inflatable dinghy in their attempt to reach the UK.

To honour and remember all those who tragically lost their lives, Exeter STAR held a vigil at St. Petrock’s Church in Exeter the following Saturday evening (27th) which lasted 27 minutes; a minute for each person who died. Members of the Exeter community came together with Student Action for Refugees (STAR) for the event, with many staying beyond the 27 minutes in order to pay their respects. We lit tealights and shared stories, some in the form of poetry and others in prose.

The vigil was both a reminder of the power of communal healing, but also of a tragedy which could have been prevented. The Nationality and Borders Bill, which is currently making its way through British Parliament, poses a significant threat to those seeking asylum in the UK, restricting access to asylum even further and criminalising many of those who are simply trying to survive. As such, this tragedy reminded us of the very real consequences of sitting back and doing nothing, as well as the importance of standing together with all those fleeing persecution.

Exeter STAR is a group run by Exeter university students which offers opportunities for students to engage with refugees and asylum seekers in the local community, as well as fundraising for refugee charities.