Hundreds of Mancunians – many from charities, campaigns and religious organizations – gathered in St. Peter’s Square in the city on Sunday to protest the government’s plan to deport refugees to Rwanda.
With only two days left before the first refugees board flights to the Central African country, the protest was one of many in the UK and came amid additional legal challenges after the Supreme Court ruled last week that flights could to continue.
Speakers included Care4Calais’ Maddie Summerfield, who described the deportation scheme as “indecent” and told the crowd: “There are 6,500 people in Manchester’s asylum system and we are here again to call for justice for them.”
Other speakers included Martin Empson of the Campaign Against Climate Change, who said: “Many in the global south are facing the effects of the climate disaster on a daily basis. At the same time, they face racism and state oppression at every turn. As a nation, we have to do something. “
He added: “Fighting for a sustainable future means fighting for one that is free from oppression.
Dr Reta Moran of the human rights group Rapar called on people to “stand shoulder to shoulder” and “continue to find ways to build solidarity”. Her comment that “this cannot continue in our name” was met with enthusiastic applause.
Moran and other speakers cited Saturday’s events in Peckham, south London, where protesters blocked a van carrying a man arrested for immigration crimes.
Karen Reisman of Unison reiterated the comments attributed to Prince Charles about the plan for Rwanda when he said: “From London to Manchester and beyond, people are horrified by what is happening.
Speakers voiced opposition to the government’s plan for refugees ahead of the Manchester rally. Photo: Sophie Zeldin-O’Neill / The Guardian
The Rev. Laurie Windl of the Church of England said she had come to speak on behalf of her flock, adding: “Many are appalled by what they see as a ‘wicked’ asylum system. This law contradicts the nature of God. ”
Meanwhile, members of the Syrian community in Manchester spoke of their own experiences and said their hearts were “broken by this new and racist policy”.
Other groups present included Stand Up to Racism, Amnesty UK, Safety4Sisters, the National Assembly and the Status Now network, plus votes from the Iranian, Iraqi and West African communities in Manchester.
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As they prepared to begin the march, chants of “Say it loud, say it clearly, refugees are welcome here” were heard.
Just before leaving the square, artist Will Belshach picked up the microphone and told the story of his grandfather, who arrived in Britain from Baghdad, adding that the deportation plan had left him “too angry to soften his tongue or calm down”.
He concluded: “Anger and civil disobedience are sometimes the only way to change things.
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