A demonstration against plans to send asylum seekers who cross the Channel in small boats to Rwanda is taking place in George Square today.
The Say No To Offshore Detention protest is taking place from 11am as campaigners demonstrate against newly announced plans to send people seeking asylum in Britain thousands of miles away to East Africa.
Home Secretary Priti Patel yesterday travelled to Rwandan capital Kigali to sign the deal and said it would 'collectively change the illegal immigration is tackled.'
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has described the move as "disgusting and despicable", adding: "I don't think it will be effective."
"More than all of that I think it is one of the most unethical, shameful policies I've seen from a UK Government and that's a big big statement for me to make.
"It's bad on its own terms, but the fact that it is being set out at a time when, clearly, the motivation is to distract from partygate I think deepens that sense of disgust people will have and that it's been deliberately used to try to stoke some kind of culture war."
Bond, the UK network of NGOs, and more than 160 other British organisations have condemned the "shamefully cruel" programme, claiming the £120million scheme is "fundamentally out of step with widespread public support for refugees in the UK".
"Sending people seeking asylum to Rwanda will cause immense suffering, with the most vulnerable people bearing the brunt," they wrote in an open letter.
"This is a shamefully cruel way to treat people who have come to the UK to seek protection, fleeing persecution or conflict."
They said to send people seeking asylum to Rwanda would be "cruel and immoral", criticising the country's track record on human rights.
The organisations said that the Government's plan would result in "more, not fewer, dangerous journeys - leaving more people at risk of being trafficked".
They also warned the cost of the plan would be "astronomical".
"This would be on top of the costs of detention, transportation, escorting and legal and administrative costs.
"It is ludicrous that such vast sums are being spent on this plan at the same time the Government has refused to help people hit by the cost-of-living crisis."
It also warned that the carbon footprint generated by the flights would be "immense" and "cannot be justified at this critical moment in the climate crisis".
The protest begins at 11am at George Square. Attendees are asked to bring banners, leaflets and flowers to the event.
