‘Refugees are welcome here’

by Cinzia D’Ambrosi and Safeena Chaudhry

Hundreds protest outside Home Office against Rwanda deportation plan and they shout ‘Refugees are welcome here’. This is the message voiced by demonstrators opposing the government policies which sees deportation of some refugees to Rwanda.

©Safeena Chaudhry

The government claims the policy, belonging to the Nationality and Borders Act, of removing migrants who arrive in the UK illegally will deter people from making dangerous channel crossings, however many including bishops of England have condemned the move as being uncompassionate and intricately divisive and racist.

Among the huge numbers of protesters, many MPs voiced their anger at the policy, including former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn who spoke out: “It is an utter disgrace that the British government and other European governments are proposing to outsource refugee processing as Australia. We have to say, ‘Absolutely no!”

Former Labour Party Leader, Jeremy Corbyn outrage and concern of the new policy. ©Cinzia D’Ambrosi
Bell Ribeiro-Addy MP was among the speakers in support to refugees not being deported to Rwanda. ©Cinzia D’Ambrosi

©Safeena Chaudhry

©Safeena Chaudhry

©Cinzia D’Ambrosi ©Cinzia D’Ambrosi

©Safeena Chaudhry

Campaign groups such as Care4Calais , activists from various campaign groups gave speeches and chanted: “say it loud, say it clear, refugees are welcome here”.

©Cinzia D’Ambrosi

The effort of these groups, PCS Union and Stand Up to Racism organisations, and all those that have opposed the policy, have mounted a forceful legal challenge to stop the first scheduled flight to Rwanda as part of the offshore detention plan. Solidarity is uniting people as more protests are organised to challenge the government plans.

Photography : Cinzia D’Ambrosi and Safeena Chaudhry

Text & photo editor : Cinzia D’Ambrosi | Photojournalism Hub

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