A protest against the government's plans to send asylum seekers to a facility in Rwanda is set to take place in Bristol city centre this weekend. Activists will gather by the cascade steps opposite the Radisson Blu hotel on the harbourside for an hour from 1pm on Saturday, June 11.
The demonstration is targeting the Home Office's plans to fly asylum seekers 4,500 miles away to Rwanda to be processed. The plans have been criticised by the Labour party as “unworkable, unethical and extortionate”, although the government says that it will help to reduce unauthorised immigration across the Channel and prevent the need to house asylum seekers in hotels.
Under the proposals, an initial £120 million is expected to be given to the Rwandan government under a trial scheme, which is being criticised by the Refugee Council as a “cruel and nasty decision” that will fail to address the issue.
