Teen Organizes Unity March to Celebrate Southampton Refugees

Southampton is preparing for a celebration that flips the script on how we talk about refugees.

Bobby Grigore, an 18-year-old activist and first-generation Romanian immigrant, is organizing Unity in the Community, a march starting Sunday at noon in Southampton city centre. The event aims to celebrate refugees as the powerful, resilient people they are.

"Don't pity refugees," Bobby writes in his call to action. "Pity is a sentiment reserved for those who are weak and incompetent. Refugees are fierce, powerful, and they're living proof that tomorrow is one hopeful thought away."

The march comes as a direct response to far-right rhetoric that has targeted refugee communities in Southampton. Rather than counter hate with anger, Bobby chose celebration as his weapon of choice.

Southampton's diversity tells a global story. Walk down any street and you'll trace paths from across the Earth, each resident bringing their own experience to create the city's unique fabric.

Bobby knows something about overcoming odds himself. As a queer and autistic young man, he was told politics would be impossible to navigate given his background. He proved those doubters wrong and now campaigns for marginalized groups facing injustice.

Why This Inspires

This isn't a march of sympathy. It's a recognition of strength. Bobby describes the refugees he's celebrating as "saviours of their own lives" who have survived unimaginable trauma through sheer perseverance.

The event rejects the idea that community can exist while excluding people. Real community means protecting and celebrating those facing hardships through no fault of their own, especially when they're painted as threats by those who claim to defend that same community.

Bobby envisions the celebration like a pub roaring after a goal, a colorful Holi festival, or a Park Run with friends and their dogs. It's meant to be joyful, loud, and unapologetically proud of Southampton's global citizens.

Participants will gather in front of Southampton Central Library by the fountain at noon on Sunday, January 12th. The message is simple: unity belongs in community, and Southampton's refugees deserve celebration, not pity.

Bobby's personal motto captures the spirit of the event perfectly: "I can't wait for it to not be easy."