Dear IRR News subscriber,

‘Who we are is what we do’, writes Jenny Bourne, in a reflection on what the memorial event for A. Sivanandan meant for her. The event on 23 June brought together an array of people to celebrate a particular political practice, but most importantly, it showed the urgent need to now apply Siva’s principles to a new political climate of extreme repression and growing fascism. We thank everyone who came, volunteered and participated in what was a very special event.

The July issue of Race & Class, ‘The past in the present’, draws on how reparatory history must be about more than recognising how the legacies of the past live on in the present, but must actively work towards the repair of historical injustice. With articles by Catherine Hall, Anita Rupprecht & Cathy Bergin, John Newsinger, Bill Rolston and Amaia Alvarez Berastegi, the issue brings a new perspective to reparatory history.

We also publish an article written by the co-convenors of The Last Rights project, formed in 2015 in response to the callous and casual treatment of the migrant dead washed up on Europe’s shores. They describe a milestone in the project’s aim to create a legally binding protocol for states: the signing in May of the Mytilini Declaration for the Dignified Treatment of All Missing and Deceased Persons and Their Families as a Consequence of Migrant Journeys. 

As Europe’s governments devise ever more lethal policies towards refugees and displaced people, civil society produces more initiatives driven by solidarity and humanity. Our regular calendar of racism and resistance gives more details.

IRR News team