Thousands of people gathered in cities across the UK on Saturday to protest against the government’s illegal migration bill. Organizers Stand Up To Racism and the Scottish Trades Union
Congress (STUC) held protests in Glasgow and Cardiff against racism, Islamophobia, antisemitism, fascism and the far right, while in London, protesters marched towards Downing Street carrying signs and banners, some reading “no human is illegal”. The legislation, introduced by the Home Secretary, Suella Braverman, means that refugees who arrive in the UK through unauthorised means, such as crossing the Channel in a boat, will have their asylum claims deemed inadmissible.
The protest comes as Braverman is on a trip to Rwanda to reaffirm her commitment to the government’s policy of deporting migrants to the African state. Maria Frazier, 75, was among those protesting against the government, stating that she agreed with Gary Lineker’s comment comparing the language used to promote the government’s immigration policies to that used in 1930s Germany. The retired speech and language therapist from south London called for an all-out indefinite general strike and for the Tories to be removed by class action.
Planning officer Mark Daly, 65, who travelled from Horsham, West Sussex, also spoke out against the government’s “racist” bill. “The government is trying to make these people not only unwelcome but illegal. We cannot classify people as illegal, it’s a racist policy from a racist government,” he said. Meanwhile, architect Lizi Cushen, 39, joined the anti-racism protest in London with her husband and sons, aged four and six, after being “shocked” by the scandal of missing refugee children from Home Office hotels.
“The illegal migration bill is dehumanising everyone who’s seeking asylum. It’s important to protest because it’s the only way to be visible and heard at the moment,” Cushen said. Her sons held signs calling for “safe passage for all kids like me”. Cushen’s friend Cassi Harrison, a 42-year-old charity worker, added: “We see quite a lot of the government ministers saying they speak for the great British public, and we want to be here to say that they don’t speak for us.”
Coachloads of protesters were pictured on social media wearing masks depicting the face of Gary Lineker, who was due to return to TV screens to present coverage of the FA Cup quarter-final between Manchester City and Burnley. The broadcaster was taken off air last weekend for a tweet criticising the language used by ministers when discussing the government’s asylum policy.
Protests against the government’s immigration policies have been ongoing for months, with many individuals and organizations calling for a more humane and compassionate approach to those seeking asylum in the UK. The government’s decision to deport migrants to Rwanda has been heavily criticized, with many arguing that it is a violation of human rights and fails to address the root causes of migration.
The protest on Saturday was a reminder that there is still a significant amount of opposition to the government’s immigration policies, and that people are willing to take to the streets to make their voices heard. As the debate around immigration continues, it remains to be seen whether the government will listen to the concerns of its citizens and take a more compassionate approach to those seeking refuge in the UK. Photo by Ggia, Wikimedia commons.