PROTESTERS marched through the streets of Glasgow yesterday as anti-racism demonstrations took place across the UK, organised partly in response to the Tory government’s new “Stop the Boats” bill.
Demonstrators gathered in the city carrying banners with slogans saying “Stop Rwanda” and “Braverman out now – Refugees Welcome Here”, with groups travelling from Dundee, Perth, Dumfries and Galloway and Newcastle.
Some sported Gary Lineker masks in reference to the TV presenter after he compared the UK Government’s language around small boats crossing the Channel to Nazi Germany, sparking a major row with the BBC.
The marches, organised by Stand Up To Racism and the STUC, were also held in London and Cardiff yesterday afternoon.
Controversial legislation introduced by Home Secretary Suella Braverman last week states that refugees who arrive in the UK through unauthorised means, such as crossing the English Channel in a boat, will have their asylum claims deemed inadmissible.
John McFadden, organiser of the march in Glasgow, said it was being held to coincide with the UN’s international day against racism, but it was vital to hold a “big and vibrant” demonstration with the bill going through parliament.
“People have the right to asylum and that is a big part of what today’s demonstration is about, opposing that anti-refugee bill,” he said.
“Because [the Tories] have crashed the economy, because people’s standards of living is suffering with rising inflation, they want to divert people’s attention and get them involved in culture wars by letting them vent their anger and fury on the most vulnerable people who are fleeing war and persecution.
“We are here to stand against that and to build a movement that says no to racism, no to scapegoating and that refugees are welcome here.”
“Europe and Britain are countries that need young workers, there is actually an incentive for people to be welcomed here and for safe legal routes to be provided for them.
“The Government has set their face against that as they want to use this as a culture war and unfortunately it is the most vulnerable that are being punished for this – this idea they will be detained for fleeing war and persecution is unconscionable.”
The protesters marched through Glasgow city centre led by campaigners calling for justice for Sheku Bayoh, who died after being restrained by police officers, before a rally was held in George Square.
On the march to Downing Street in London, protesters carried signs reading “no human being is illegal” and “refugees welcome”.
Maria Frazier, 75, said she was protesting against the Government because she agreed with Lineker’s comment comparing some of the language used around its immigration policies to those of 1930s Germany.
She said: “Lineker was right when he said there are shades of the German Reich in the methods that they’re using.
“People are turning out because they’re extremely angry at the way the economy is being run and the deprivation that’s going on while the rich people in power make themselves richer.”
