Words Matter

Words matter because words have power. Inflammatory and exclusionary rhetoric not only serves to stigmatise those fleeing persecution and conflict, but also forms the foundation on which restrictive asylum and immigration policy is created. That is why we must challenge language that gives legitimacy to a discourse of racism, intolerance and xenophobia. Join me in making your Words Matter pledge today.

Tommy Sheppard MP

We ask those that agree to pledge their support to challenge harmful and divisive language.

This starts with you pledging:

• to call out the use of words that alienate and demean migrants, including refugees.

Or, we ask you to pledge that you will:

• stand up and challenge language which encourages division and harms migrants, including refugees.

Defy the narrative by pledging below.

An increase in hostile language is fuelling tension and hostility towards migratised and racialised groups in the UK, specifically migrants, including refugees. 

At MRN, we have been leading the way in challenging the narrative around migration. We understand that language forms the foundation of how people navigate global immigration systems and how they are treated. We have dedicated a campaign to exploring the ramifications of certain language, and show solidarity to migratised communities by standing up against harmful narratives. 

We want to campaign for a society in which the migrant experience is respected and valued. The recent events and inflammatory language used by the media and politicians shows us the time to defy the status quo is NOW. 

We are calling on politicians, charity sector organisations, the media and individuals to recognise that their words matter. 

Take the Words Matter pledge and defy the narrative

WHAT TAKING THE PLEDGE ENTAILS

If you take the pledge, you may occasionally receive emails relating to Words Matter. If you do not wish to receive the occasional email on Words Matter, then do not take the pledge. 

IF YOU WISH TO TAKE THE PLEDGE BUT NOT SIGN UP TO OUR MONTHLY NEWSLETTER

If you want to take the pledge (which also includes the occasional email relating to our Words Matter campaign), but do not wish to sign up to our monthly newsletter, then make sure you:

1) Click ‘take the pledge only’ under the Permissions drop-down AND

2) Check the ‘no, do not opt in’ box at the bottom of the form, right before the ‘take the pledge’ button.

IF YOU WISH TO TAKE THE PLEDGE AND ALSO SIGN UP TO OUR MONTHLY NEWSLETTER

If you want to take the pledge (which also includes the occasional email relating to our Words Matter campaign), and also wish to sign up to our monthly newsletter, then make sure you:

1) Click ‘take the pledge only and also sign up to MRN’s monthly newsletter’ under the Permissions drop-down AND

2) Check the ‘yes, opt in to email updates’ box at the bottom of the form, right before the ‘take the pledge’ button. This ensures that your subscription to our newsletter is registered.

Pledge logos for social media/website

We encourage you to display the pledge and show others that you ‘say NO to hate against migrants, including refugees’.

To display the pledge logo you can download these logos by clicking on the image and dragging it onto your desktop.

Ask your representative to make the Words Matter Pledge

Help us make our Words Matter. You can help us change the narrative by writing to your MP, MSP, MS or MLA and ask them to take our pledge. Find out more and use our template letter.

Words Matter Pledgers

Making sure our words matter, challenging divisive language and calling out hate are more important than ever. We are really grateful to the politicians, organisations and individuals who have pledged to make their words matter. Some campaign supporters include:

• Paul Hamlyn Foundation
• Ben & Jerry’s
• Refugee Council
• Olivia Blake MP, Co-Chair of APPG on Migration
• Caroline Lucas MP
• Alison Thewliss MP
• Paul McLennan MSP
• Jenny Rathbone MS
• Huw Irranca-Davies MS
• Maggie Chapman MSP
• Paula Bradshaw MLA
• Baroness Lister
• Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants (JCWI)
• Freedom From Torture
• Focus on Labour Exploitation (FLEX)
• Bloody Good Period
• Doctors of the World
• Asylum Matters

---

Open Letter to the Home Secretary

We were very concerned about the dehumanising rhetoric made by politicians, specifically the Home Secretary’s comments in which she referred to people arriving in small boats as an ‘invasion’. We wrote an open letter asking her to withdraw her comments and apologise. We also called on our friends and colleagues in the charity sector, activists and community groups to join us in calling for an end to the alienating and divisive narrative around migration.

To read the full letter, click here.

To download signatory assets for social media, click here.