GMCDP is saddened to hear that Manjeet Kaur, Chair of RAPAR, has passed away. Manjeet has been a prominent disabled activist in local and national campaigns over the last decade in Manchester, and a fantastic community leader. She was involved in disabled people's movement campaigns around the UK and very many campaigns about asylum and refugees.
Manjeet was not a member of GMCDP, but we have joined Manjeet in protest and she was a friend to a number of us here. We recognise Manjeet's remarkable contribution to activism here.
Here writes Dennis Queen, our membership lead in the executive committee.
"I first met Manjeet when Women Asylum Seekers Together contacted Manchester Disabled People Against Cuts, as Manjeet's landlord was preparing to evict her onto the streets, in 2011, after her right to remain was first refused. They wondered if we could support Manjeet with disability specific issues as she is a wheelchair user.
When I went to meet Manjeet, I was struck by her strong socialist politics. She told me that she would always stay involved in activism here - not just while she needed help. This was very important to Manjeet, and a promise she kept to for the rest of her life.
Manjeet's asylum support housing was very basic, barely a roof over her head, it was not accessible, or adapted and she clearly needed better equipment and support. Manjeet had been denied adequate housing and support because she was an asylum seeker, but needed to keep this to start with and eventually access better housing. There wasn't much time so we gathered as many people as we could from WAST and DPAC's grassroots networks. On eviction day, a collaboration of disabled and nondisabled activists gathered together at the property in Whalley Range and we barricaded ourselves in with Manjeet, daring the landlord to get the police to drag us out.
Manjeet wasn't new to politics and led a truly stunning collaborative protest, which soon had the landlord backing down and agreeing that Manjeet could stay until an alternative was found. Manjeet is an incredible woman, so strong and political. I learned a lot locked down with Manjeet that day and links were made between our networks that we hope will last forever.
Following this, Manjeet became a prominent campaigner for asylum seekers' human rights, chair of RAPAR, and we have been on many human rights protests together. Manjeet helped many other asylum seekers since, disabled and nondisabled alike. She had also been falsely told she was therefore entitled to no disability related support, such as personal care, equipment and so on. Manjeet fought long and hard for her own support, decent housing, equipment and most of all right to stay in the UK.
It was such a joy when Manjeet's right to remain was finally granted in 2019, a number of years later. I have added the photo I took of Manjeet at a Manchester protest in support of the people of Ferguson USA, following the murder of Mike Brown, organised by people of colour. Manjeet made alliances that were new here, and we have a lot to thank her for. I would like to suggest that we honour her memory and her work, by maintaining and growing the links between Disabled Peoples Organisations and asylum seekers groups in Manchester.
The last time I saw Manjeet we bumped into each other in town and I met her beautiful daughter and husband, which was wonderful. I wish to send personal condolences and love to Manjeet's family and let them know that local activists are here for them if they need anything."
Mx Dennis Queen
Disabled people against cuts has written a tribute to Manjeet, which you can find here: http://dpac.uk.net/tag/manjeet-kaur/
RAPAR has a page up about Manjeet which you can see here: http://raparuk.weebly.com/manjeet-must-stay-in-the-uk.html#
An obituary has also been written about Manjeet in The Meteor which you can see here: https://www.themeteor.org/2020/05/09/obituary-manjeet-kaur-disability-and-human-rights-campaigner/
Friends are collecting photos and other memories of Manjeet, for her daughter. If you have anything you would like to contribute, please contact: info@rofa.org.uk