Promote the migrant vote.When I escaped Sarajevo under the siege at the end of 1993, there was no plan. I had no idea where I was going. I only knew what I was leaving behind. Violence, destruction and all my loved ones. I ended up in London through a strange set of circumstances. I was heartbroken, but finally safe, not only from sniper fire and shelling, but safe to start dreaming of a future.
Britain felt like the most democratic, free and fair country in the world, where reason and the law ruled and fascists never seized power. People were kind, supportive, welcoming and understanding. London quickly became home. That is still the case, even more so, after all these years. But, I am no longer sure how safe I feel outside my London bubble.
In our public conversation, migrants and refugees, like me, are shamelessly dehumanised. The debate is often referred to as ‘toxic’. After the EU referendum, this toxicity quickly turned into vitriol and hate attacks. As someone who survived genocidal war in my country, I know too well that there is no intellectual version of hate. Aside from making lives of minorities and immigrants unsafe and unpleasant, sooner or later someone gets hurt.
