For many years, in Europe, we have witnessed a violent campaign of criminalization of migrants and refugees, as well as against the aid workers and activists who try to protect their life, dignity and rights. Today the situation has again, dramatically worsened. While shipwrecks and deaths at sea have tragically increased compared to last year, the civil fleet operating in Central Med sea is facing new threats as the right-wing Italian government is doing everything it can to hinder solidarity: blaming the victims, forcing crews and shipwrecked people to unnecessary journeys to distant ports, keeping ships away from the areas where they are most needed, and fueling a climate of suspicion and hatred toward those who cross the sea – to save themselves or to rescue.
Relieving those in need is a humanitarian act, not a political one. Yet it has been politicized by the Governments, to the point of being considered a “divisive” issue.
If so, then you have to choose sides: on the side of those who rescue, because saving people is a duty, not a crime. Or on the side of those who let them drown, those who want to use your taxes for pushbacks and violations of human rights, those who grant or deny rights on the basis of skin color, nationality, sexual orientation: this is fascism, and fascism is a crime.
That is why we invite you to practice an act of civil, nonviolent resistance: get on board ResQ by donating for the next search and rescue operation.
And we will send you this T-shirt, to tell everyone that saving people is not a crime. Fascism is a crime.
You will be able to donate different amounts, starting from 30 euros, while still receiving one T-shirt: because there is more than cotton in this T-shirt, there are medicines and fuel for the ship, there are life jackets and toys for the children. To those who can, we ask you to donate a little bit more even for those who cannot donate today.
And we ask you to have some patience, because volunteers are in charge of the process and the month of August does not help mailings.
We are based in Italy and will ship your T-shirt from here: so if you want to receive more than one T-shirt, please contact us to save money and C02.