So, I’m an immigrant #Brexit

Hi, unless this ‘goes viral’, you probably know me — In person, off Twitter, Facebook, or from wherever else. If you don’t know me, I’m Paul, and I’ve been living, working, and paying taxes in the UK for more than ten years.

I’m Irish — I grew up in a small village, called Crossabeg, outside of a small town, called Wexford, in the Republic of Ireland.

I’m pasty-white, I have freckles and I can probably pass for a ginge-British person, until I open my mouth. My brogue is particularly strong.

Despite my skin-tone, I’m usually worried about racist/xenophobic abuse if I open my mouth in front of the wrong crowd. In my time in the UK, I’ve have been on the receiving end of occasional low-level racist/xenophobic grief on a number of occasions. I can’t begin to imagine what sort of grief that people of colour or eastern European people might have seen in the same time.

My fears around this grief are suddenly heightened in the wake of the Brexit vote. In just a few days post the vote, I’ve already heard stories that have turned my stomach. Again, I’m sure many other proud Britons, from a range of backgrounds, are at far more risk than I am right now.

That doesn’t stop me being worried.

Being worried makes me want to take some action.

I would like to suggest, that regardless of how you voted in the EURef, if you support your neighbor, if you love the multicultural society in which you may live, or if you are horrified by the recent reports of racist and fascist activity you may have heard about, then you signal that by wearing a badge, sticker, or something else. You let people around you know that you love them, care about them, and want them to stay.

I suggest this heart image, but if you want to use something else to communicate to your friends in the UK, please do.

Please print, save, or share, but definitely wear it, own it and care.