THE horrors of the war in Ukraine, as with any other conflict, present us all with a choice — how do we respond to the humanitarian crisis?

For millions of ordinary people an outpouring of sympathy for the victims of the conflict is their natural response. But, as ever, we are also seeing the failures and prejudices of those in power.

As with the recent crisis in Afghanistan, the British government is utterly failing to rise to the reality of the scale of the human disaster in Ukraine.

Its “volunteer” scheme falls far short of what is necessary and Ukrainian refugees still face huge hurdles in coming to Britain. 

Government rhetoric is far more sympathetic towards Ukrainians, who “look like us,” than towards those fleeing wars in the Middle East and Africa.

The scenes of black and Asian refugees being sent to the back of the queue in Ukraine have shocked millions and need to be recognised as part of the reality of the war.

There should be safe passage for every refugee.

What we have seen from Boris Johnson is more of the ongoing “hostile environment” embodied in the Nationality and Borders Bill that is still making its way through Parliament, a Bill that all but ends the legal route to seek asylum in Britain.

As the hashtag goes Johnson and Priti Patel should simply #WaiveVisasNotFlags

Let’s be honest. We have a government that is not afraid to use racism to deflect opposition from its appalling record — from the lockdown parties at the height of the pandemic in No 10 to the mounting cost-of-living crisis.

From the Windrush scandal, through the disproportionate deaths amidst the Covid-19 crisis to the denial of institutional racism throughout the Black Lives Matter movement, the government has denied the reality of racism in our society.

Johnson and Priti Patel have rushed to defend Britain’s bloody history of racism and colonialism against the challenge Black Lives Matter presented.

Legislation has targeted anti-racists and BLM along with Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities. The Tory Party has also failed miserably to respond to the endemic Islamophobia in its ranks and Johnson has also used far-right tropes that have encouraged the rebirth of fascist mobilisations on the streets of Telford, Hull and elsewhere.

With all this is mind — and with the growth of racism, Islamophobia, anti-semitism and the far right internationally — there couldn’t be a more crucial time to mobilise the anti-racist majority onto the streets.

There is a massive urgency to demand justice for all refugees as we face the biggest refugee crisis in Europe since WWII. And we have to affirm that those fleeing war, poverty and climate catastrophe from outside Europe are also made welcome — because Black Lives Matter too!

Why should one set of refugees receive free travel on Eurostar (completely correctly) while others must risk their lives in small boats crossing the Mediterranean and the Channel?

We cannot stand idly by in the face of enormous suffering while “our” government puts the politics of divide and rule above human lives.

In recent days it has sadly been confirmed yet again that racism can come centre stage amid even the most acute crisis.

On Saturday March 19 in London and Glasgow and on Sunday March 20 in Cardiff — co-ordinated with international protests and backed by the TUC — thousands will take to the streets to oppose racism, as we approach UN Anti-Racism Day.

This is our chance to make a huge impact into the political agenda by making sure that it’s anti-racism and the #RefugeesWelcome message that hits the headlines.

We urge every anti-racist campaigner, trade unionist and faith organisation to make a stand this weekend and say it’s time to end the Tories’ racist offensive.

Weyman Bennett is co-convener of Stand Up to Racism (standuptoracism.org.uk).