THE organisers of a festival celebrating the anniversary of the landmark Kenmure Street immigration raid protest have condemned the Home Office’s “brutal” plan to send asylum seekers to Africa.
Ahead of the event this weekend, Priti Patel insisted she would use “every tool and every piece of legislation at our disposal” to remove migrants who allegedly arrive in the UK “illegally”.
But on Friday and Saturday in Glasgow’s Southside, activists, charities, politicians and local residents will send a message of solidarity to refugees. Twelve months on from the day (May 13) Pollokshields residents mobilised on Kemure Street to prevent the Home Office deporting their neighbours in a dawn raid, they are gathering in the same location to demand dignity for all.
Coinciding with the UK Government’s push to move asylum seekers to Rwanda, the Scottish Refugee Council’s chief executive says the The Festival of Resistance could not be coming at a more pivotal moment.
Sabir Zazai, who is among the event’s keynote speakers, said: “One year ago, the people of Kenmure Street told the Home Office loud and clear that their inhumane tactics are not welcome here. We cannot tolerate a society in which people seeking protection live in fear of experiencing a dawn raid in their own homes. This simply isn’t the kind of society people in Scotland want to live in.
“The Home Office is now planning to use even more brutal tactics and deport people who are only looking to rebuild their lives in safety to Rwanda. It has never been more important that we stand together as a community, as a society and as a country to these disgraceful plans, in the spirit of Kenmure Street.”
Local residents, schools and charities supporting Scotland’s Afghan, Syrian and Yemeni communities will be among those gathering for the Kenmure Street festival.
Food inspired by the city’s diverse cultures will be served, while New Scot musicians will perform live. There will also be a silent vigil to remember the moment one year ago when the two men detained by Home Office officials were released following an eight-hour stand-off.
Key speakers will include Zazai and human rights lawyer Aamer Anwar, as well as Glasgow SNP MP Alison Thewliss, Scottish Greens co-leader Patrick Harvie and Labour MSP Paul Sweeney.
The Festival of Resistance is being organised with grassroot groups and charities, including Govanhill Baths Community Trust, Maryhill Integration Network, Freedom from Torture, Unity Sisters and many others.
Fatima Uygun, manager of Govanhill Baths Community Trust, said: “First and foremost we want to really underline that no one is illegal. Refugees and asylum seekers deserve to be treated with dignity and the opportunity to achieve their full potential.
“Even though Glasgow is one of the largest refugee dispersal centres in the UK, the voices of people – especially women – going through this process are largely unheard, silenced by a lack of resources, support, and a real fear of being subject to hostile and racist measures - like dawn raids - from the UK Government.”
The defiant comments come after the Home Secretary doubled down on promises to send asylum seekers to Rwanda – despite major legal, ethical and financial concerns.
Speaking during a visit to the Metropolitan Police specialist training centre in Kent, Patel said there were “barriers and hurdles” to overcome but the Government was determined to “remove those with no legal basis of being in the UK, to Rwanda”.
Again taking aim at the legal profession, the Tory minister blamed “specialist lawyers” as the main roadblock in setting up the scheme.
Last week, the Prime Minister came under fire for “attacks” on lawyers who are “simply doing their jobs” while the Government faces legal action over the plans.
Boris Johnson claimed “liberal lawyers” would attempt to scupper the deal as Downing Street said flights for the one-way trip to the east African nation may not take place for months, in the wake of criticism and legal challenges.
Mark Fenhalls QC, chairman of the Bar Council, said: “Attacks on men and women for simply doing their jobs are irresponsible and undermine the rule of law.”
Sir Jonathan Jones QC, a former head of the Government Legal Department and now a senior consultant at law firm Linklaters, said it was “not fair to blame the lawyers for bringing such challenges – they are just serving the best interests of their clients, as they are professionally bound to do”.
The Festival of Resistance kicks off on Friday May 13 at 5.30pm with a silent vigil on Kenmure Street.
It continues on Saturday from 12pm. Other activities will include tree-planting, storytelling and children’s art activities. It will also coincide with the launch of a new educational resource for teachers, No Radio Silence, a short film and e-book designed to start conversations on New Scots issues.
