Not Newsthump: Cartoons painted over at children's asylum centre because they're too nice

[muriel_volestrangler]

Robert Jenrick has cartoon murals painted over at children’s asylum centre

Murals of cartoon characters including Mickey Mouse and Baloo from The Jungle Book painted on the walls of an asylum seeker reception centre to welcome children have been removed on the orders of the immigration minister, Robert Jenrick.

The murals were painted over because he thought they were too welcoming and sent the wrong message.

Staff at the reception centre for small boats arrivals in Kent were horrified by the order, and opposed to painting over the murals.
...
The Kent intake unit (KIU) is a reception centre for unaccompanied child asylum seekers. Some of the lone children arriving in the UK are as young as nine, the Home Office recently disclosed. Jenrick issued the instruction to paint over the mural in April.

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2023/jul/07/robert-jenrick-has-cartoon-murals-painted-over-at-childrens-asylum-centre

"Sent the wrong message" - as more than one comment in the article says, it's absurd to suggest that the decoration in a reception centre "sends a message" to anyone, child or adult, when they're deciding whether to risk a child's life in a crossing.

[RKP5637]

1. FFS!!! n/t

[stopdiggin]

2. well - - wouldn't really want anyone to feel safe - or welcome -(nt)-

[Richard_GB]

3. The British Conservative Party

Is known as the nasty party for a reason.

[LeftishBrit]

4. Vile

[Emrys]

5. British cartoonists rally to offer to repaint cartoons for the refugee kids:

Link to tweet

Guy Venables
@godfreychurch

I've offered to repaint the mural on the children's centre, painted over on the orders of Robert Jenrick, in the refugee centre at Dover. Presuming I get a positive response, if any other cartoonist would like to join me, you'd be most welcome.

Link to tweet

kiwi
@lindakeyworth

Oh that’s so good. I hope you have an amazing response.

Guy Venables
@godfreychurch

I already have. If it goes ahead it will be a mural made up of work by most of the finest cartoonists and illustrators in the country. And a lot of tea and cakes from the locals!

[T_i_B]

6. I would expect the asylum centre to be run by a private contractor....

....who might be very controlling and unwilling to let an outsider come in to do something nice for the residents.

Art is an important outlet for people in those places. I've attended an art exhibition recently with works from asylum seekers stuck in these places. And that's just scratching the surface of why Jenrick's actions are so disgusting.