This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/sep/13/refugees-welcome-banner-steals-show-last-night-proms-royal-albert-hall

The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 1 Version 2
'Refugees Welcome' banner steals show at Last Night of the Proms 'Refugees Welcome' banner steals show at Last Night of the Proms
(about 2 hours later)
A “Refugees Welcome” banner joined union jacks being waved during the Last Night Of the Proms at the Royal Albert Hall.A “Refugees Welcome” banner joined union jacks being waved during the Last Night Of the Proms at the Royal Albert Hall.
The sign was unfurled in one of the grand boxes at the London venue on Saturday evening, after tens of thousands of people joined a solidarity march in the capital earlier in the day.The sign was unfurled in one of the grand boxes at the London venue on Saturday evening, after tens of thousands of people joined a solidarity march in the capital earlier in the day.
Related: ‘Refugees welcome here’: UK marchers take to streets with message of supportRelated: ‘Refugees welcome here’: UK marchers take to streets with message of support
There were dozens of similar rallies around the UK – including in Belfast, Glasgow, Cardiff, Brighton, Manchester, York and Edinburgh. Tens of thousands also gathered in Denmark in support of the refugees.There were dozens of similar rallies around the UK – including in Belfast, Glasgow, Cardiff, Brighton, Manchester, York and Edinburgh. Tens of thousands also gathered in Denmark in support of the refugees.
The marches came as ministers from across the EU are preparing to meet to try to hammer out an agreement on where tens of thousands of asylum seekers should live.The marches came as ministers from across the EU are preparing to meet to try to hammer out an agreement on where tens of thousands of asylum seekers should live.
Union jack flags bearing the words “Refugees Welcome Here” were also waved during Saturday’s Proms finale. The “Refugees Welcome” banner was unfurled just before the performance began and was on display throughout the evening.Union jack flags bearing the words “Refugees Welcome Here” were also waved during Saturday’s Proms finale. The “Refugees Welcome” banner was unfurled just before the performance began and was on display throughout the evening.
The stunt was organised by S Chelvan, a human rights barrister at No 5 Chambers. Chelvan, who has a Sri Lankan Tamil background, said the gesture gained huge support from the audience and many congratulated him and his fellow campaigners. The idea for the banner was conceived by Susie Symes, chair of trustees at the museum at 19 Princelet Street, London’s museum of migration and diversity in east London.
#refugeeswelcome with @peterjukes @S_Chelvan in a welcoming corner of #lastnightoftheproms pic.twitter.com/vgi2xfTrat
“We were able to use the box thanks to this country giving refuge to the late Lord Lew Grade, who arrived from the Ukraine aged just five and a half, speaking no English and with unskilled parents,” she said.
“The Winogradsky boys went on to create wealth, jobs, and dominate British showbiz for a generation. Two ended up in the House of Lords, as Lord Grade and Lord Delfont. Now the second generation, Michael, is Lord Grade in his own right. We were proud to host Chelvan and other campaigners.”
S Chelvan, a human rights barrister at No 5 Chambers who has a Sri Lankan Tamil background, said the gesture gained huge support from the audience and many congratulated him and his fellow campaigners. Chelvan was another guest in the box belonging to Lady Grade where the banner was unfurled.
#refugeeswelcome - last night of proms @MigrantVoiceUK @JCWInews @19pst @peterjukes @bbcproms @mryahbut @AsylumAid pic.twitter.com/mkRAP6M1l9#refugeeswelcome - last night of proms @MigrantVoiceUK @JCWInews @19pst @peterjukes @bbcproms @mryahbut @AsylumAid pic.twitter.com/mkRAP6M1l9
“The whole day yesterday was amazing,” said Chelvan on Sunday. “First there was the demonstration in central London which was attended by tens of thousands of people who wanted to let our national government and international governments know that refugees are welcome here.“The whole day yesterday was amazing,” said Chelvan on Sunday. “First there was the demonstration in central London which was attended by tens of thousands of people who wanted to let our national government and international governments know that refugees are welcome here.
“Then there was our show of solidarity with refugees at the Proms. Last week’s announcement by Cameron is not good enough. We should be welcoming a lot more than 20,000 refugees.“Then there was our show of solidarity with refugees at the Proms. Last week’s announcement by Cameron is not good enough. We should be welcoming a lot more than 20,000 refugees.
“Most of the refugees walking across Europe don’t want to come to the UK but what about the thousands stranded in Calais? There are thousands in the camp who have fled persecution in places like Afghanistan and Eritrea. We should welcome them to the UK.”“Most of the refugees walking across Europe don’t want to come to the UK but what about the thousands stranded in Calais? There are thousands in the camp who have fled persecution in places like Afghanistan and Eritrea. We should welcome them to the UK.”
Chelvan was a guest in the box, which belongs to Lady Grade. Susie Symes, chair of trustees at the museum at 19 Princelet Street, London’s museum of migration and diversity in east London, was also a guest in the box.
#refugeeswelcome with @peterjukes @S_Chelvan in a welcoming corner of #lastnightoftheproms pic.twitter.com/vgi2xfTrat
“We were able to use the box thanks to this country giving refuge to the late Lord Lew Grade, who arrived from the Ukraine aged just five and a half, speaking no English and with unskilled parents,” she said.
“The Winogradsky boys went on to create wealth, jobs, and dominate British showbiz for a generation. Two ended up in the House of Lords, as Lord Grade and Lord Delfont. Now the second generation, Michael, is Lord Grade in his own right. We were proud to host Chelvan and other campaigners.”
19 Princelet Street – the oldest immigration museum in Europe – was founded by refugees, a South African anti-apartheid campaigner, a rabbi, an Auschwitz survivor, and a Bengali Muslim.19 Princelet Street – the oldest immigration museum in Europe – was founded by refugees, a South African anti-apartheid campaigner, a rabbi, an Auschwitz survivor, and a Bengali Muslim.
On Saturday, tens of thousands of people walked down London’s Pall Mall and Whitehall, many carrying placards and chanting “say it loud and say it clear: refugees are welcome here” and pausing outside Downing Street, with some shouting: “David Cameron, shame on you.”On Saturday, tens of thousands of people walked down London’s Pall Mall and Whitehall, many carrying placards and chanting “say it loud and say it clear: refugees are welcome here” and pausing outside Downing Street, with some shouting: “David Cameron, shame on you.”