Ben & Jerry's have teamed up with Refugee Action as part of a two-week nationwide campaign, unveiling a wall at London Southbank which supports those fleeing from other countries and seeking safety in the United Kingdom.
Baroness Shami Chakrabarti has also lent her support to the campaign, and left the message: "There is a great but small island on a troubled and shrinking interconnected planet. Sometime, somewhere, we are all refugees."
Rt Hon David Lammy, Labour MP for Tottenham added: "We are in admiration of your strength and bravery as you begin to build a new home in the UK. We are so much richer for being able to welcome you here."
The wall features artwork from British-Iranian interdisciplinary artist, Maryam Hashemi, and was created with support from national and local refugee organisations including Counterpoint Arts.
Hashemi comments: "I was excited to be approached by Ben and Jerry's to bring to life the vision of the wall of welcome. From my last 12 years in the UK, I know a warm welcome goes a long way. Art unites and brings communities together, and the wall is a beautiful opportunity to spread love."
Ben & Jerry's UK Social Mission Manager, Rebecca Baron also said: "Walls are synonymous with refugees – walls to divide and segregate certain communities, but imagine a world where a wall could be a welcome? We believe some of the loudest voices in society are compromising our values of equality and justice, we want our fans to cone together and make their voices heard in welcoming solidarity. Because what’s sweeter than people coming together, to say “we’re all equal, and we’re all welcome here"."
Following its time in London, the wall will travel to Manchester as part of Refugee Week, spending June 21-22 in the city and being completely re-imagined whilst there, as a celebration of refugee-led music, arts, and spoken word.
Members of the public can show their support by joining Ben & Jerry’s at the wall in London or Manchester, tweeting their support using #welcomenotwalls, and join in by signing up to Ben & Jerry’s Social Mission movement here: https://www.benjerry.co.uk/whats-new/2019/06/welcome-not-walls