Sussex students show solidarity with refugees in campus chalk attack

The campaign in photos


On Tuesday, Sussex students showed support for and solidarity with refugees in a campus chalk attack as a response to the recent events in the Calais Jungle.

The direct action campaign, organised by Brighton Expression Sessions and Amnesty International Sussex University Society, brought an overwhelming response for the #IStillCare hashtag campaign as students joined together to write and draw messages on Library Square.

The campaign aims to send the message to the council, government and EU decision makers that the refugee crisis has not been forgotten and encourage them to step up in this time of human need.

Brighton Expression Sessions run regular chalk attacks in the centre of town.

These are events where they turn up with a bag of chalk and a group of core ‘chalkivists’ and ask passersby to add their voices, thoughts and messages to the theme of the event.

The chalking in Library Square was a collaboration between Brighton Expression Sessions and Sussex’s Amnesty International Society following a similar successful event that was held in town last week after Expression Sessions members felt helpless and voiceless following the unfolding events in Calais.

Both of these ‘chalkings’ have given people an opportunity to voice their feelings on the refugee crisis and show their solidarity with the refugees as well as their hopes and desires for a more compassionate future.

Alex Proctor, a chalkivist from Brighton Expression Sessions said:

“The event was a massive success; a huge range of conversations were had between students, Amnesty members and Expression Sessions – from discussions around the refugee crisis to the power of art and protest to the idea behind using public space to create pop-up events like this. By the end of the session, Library Square was covered in colour and positivity.”

The #IStillCare hashtag was created to highlight the ongoing refugee crisis as a general rather than one specific event or development.

Brighton Expression Sessions intend on using the hashtag in all related campaigns in the future to tie in with local activists and express ongoing interest and compassionate solidarity.

Amnesty International Sussex University Society said:

“In the recent years, we are witnessing the worst refugee crisis sine WWII and situations such as in Calais feels pretty huge and overwhelming right now. It’s hard to feel there is anything we can do – however we believe not forgetting or letting others forget that so many of us still care is a powerful act.

We believe that Human Rights are not bargaining chips that politicians should use in order to gain and maintain power. They are the preconditions of a just, democratic and prosperous society. When Human Rights under attack, every single one of us, our culture and values is under attack.”