Close to 1,700 people have signed a petition to the new Minister for Justice asking them to stop the deportation of a family from Laois.
The school community at St Mary’s CBS Portlaoise has rallied around Lucy Adebowale and her five children Star, Greatness, Value, Prosperity, and Gold to stop them being deported to Nigeria.
A petition started on the Uplift petition platform and has gathered serious momentum, receiving more than 1,400 signatures the first day alone.
If Lucy and her children were deported to Nigeria, “their lives would be in danger if returned to Nigeria where their abusive father now lives,” the petition says.
Katrina Foley, a teacher who teaches some of Lucy’s children, set up the petition, which can be found here.
“The three oldest boys attend St Mary’s CBS, Portlaoise, where they have proven themselves to be hardworking students and gentlemen in behaviour,” Ms Foley said.
“Showing true community spirit they have been involved in the Student Council and the School of Sanctuary Committee.
“This is a family that finally had some sense of peace and safety in our community only to find themselves under threat again.
“Lucy is doing everything in her power to protect her family, but she needs support. The Adebowale family are part of our CBS community, our CBS family, so let us give her that support.”
Patrick Kelleher, a campaigner at Uplift, said: “No matter who we are or where we come from, all of us deserve to feel safe and secure.
“Deportation would needlessly and cruelly pull this family from the community and school that they have settled into.
“It’s remarkable to see how the school community has rallied behind them, and we hope that the Minister will do the right thing and let them stay in their community.”
Uplift is a people-powered community of over 350,000 people in Ireland. Each day hundreds of people take small actions together, such as signing petitions or contacting their TDs, to help build a more equal, sustainable, and just Ireland.
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