Osime Brown – a Black 21-year-old autistic man with learning disabilities – is facing deportation from his home in Britain to Jamaica. He was imprisoned in 2018 under the joint enterprise act for the theft of a mobile phone, and lost his leave to remain. The Home Office now intends to deport Brown from his home in Britain to Jamaica, a country he left when he was four years old.
Throughout his tumultuous life, Brown has been systematically failed by the services that were supposed to protect him – the education, health and social care, and criminal justice systems. Brown has a learning disability, has high support needs, and now suffers from anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder as a result of his distress. Regarding the Home Office’s plan to deport her son to Jamaica, Brown’s mother said:
He doesn’t have anybody there. He hasn’t been back to Jamaica, he doesn’t know Jamaica. When he found out the Home Office wanted to remove him he said: “Mum, is there a bus that I can come back on?” His removal would be a death sentence.
She told the Independent:
He wouldn’t cope. If he can’t even cope here, how is he going to cope in a environment and a culture he doesn’t know? He would be exploited because of his vulnerability.
34 MPs have signed a letter calling on home secretary Priti Patel to halt the planned deportation of Brown, saying:
If Osime is deported, it is our and his mother’s belief that he will die.
#StopTheDeportation
Brown’s family have taken to social media to call for a twitterstorm at 7pm on 25 February to raise awareness about his case and stop the planned deportation:
They have shared a useful thread on how people can get involved in the online campaign:
🚨 Please don’t forget about the #TwitterStorm happening for #OsimeBrown this evening from 7pm onwards (UK time) 🚨
Please read the thread below for all ways you can take action this evening.#StopTheDeportation #OsimeNeedsHisFamily #JusticeForOsimeBrown https://t.co/FP0E5Eb9ne pic.twitter.com/8R9sqzL8Kl
— JUSTICE FOR OSIME BROWN (Offical Account) (@FreeOsimeBrown) February 25, 2021
They encourage those taking part to tag the official @FreeOsimeBrown page and to use hashtags to ensure the campaign is impactful:
Hey all! Just a quick reminder… When making people aware of the #TwitterStorm this Thursday for #OsimeBrown, can you please mention our account @FreeOsimeBrown so others can find the official page 🙏
Please link the linktree: https://t.co/LphBN3487a#StopTheDeportation pic.twitter.com/8nSka1wjC8
— JUSTICE FOR OSIME BROWN (Offical Account) (@FreeOsimeBrown) February 23, 2021
Who will be joining?
Emma Taylor shared some information about Brown’s case and how to get involved in the twitterstorm:
https://twitter.com/Emmakat83/status/1364532162930888705
One Twitter user has shared a reminder for those taking part in the twitterstorm to tag their MPs to make sure the word gets out:
https://twitter.com/admhgn/status/1364475176914726913
Another user has shared graphics that people can use to draw attention to the cause:
Don’t forget to join us tonight at 7pm for the #OsimeBrownTwitterstorm
Be sure to let everyone know, and please don’t forget to start @‘ing big accounts for support by RT.
🙏🏽🤍🖤❤️#StopTheDeportation#JusticeForOsimeBrown#OsimeNeedsHisFamily pic.twitter.com/FZWfz4ofTk— Spartan 👊🏽 (@1mmortalSpartan) February 25, 2021
Bill Ward shared a helpful reminder that users can schedule tweets using sites such as Tweetdeck:
Don't forget this, folks. If you're not likely to be online at this time, remember you can schedule tweets to go out during the twitterstorm.#StopTheDeportation@FreeOsimeBrown https://t.co/6TKMn1lyBm
— Bill Ward 🐝 TUSC 💙 #PeaceandJustice (@BillWard60) February 24, 2021
How else can I help?
As Aimee-Nicole has highlighted, people can sign the petition to halt the deportation:
Everyone please sign the petition to stop the deportion of Osime Brown. #OsimeBrown #OsimeNeedsHisFamily #OsimeBrown #StopTheDeportation @FreeOsimeBrown xx.
— Aimee-Nicole ❄️ #Blacklivesmatter #Savemanifest (@AimeeNicole234) February 24, 2021
Another Twitter user has shared the template people can use to write to the Home Office and their MP, calling on them to end the injustice:
https://twitter.com/greenplantday/status/1364632273086259202
Supporters can also donate to the campaign fundraiser.
However we choose to support the campaign, we must use our collective voice to demand justice for Brown and send a loud, clear message that we do not accept the Home Office’s plans to put a vulnerable young man into an extremely dangerous situation.
Featured image via @FreeOsimeBrown/Twitter
