Harlow Stand Up To Racism protests against Rwanda deportation plans
Politics / Mon 18th Jul 2022 at 07:56am
ON Saturday 16 July members of Harlow Stand Up To Racism (SUTR) protested at the Obelisk in the town centre as part of a national day of action called by SUTR and Care4Calais.
The protest was against government plans to deport asylum seekers to Rwanda. Asylum seekers, held in detention centres, with the threat of deportation flights hanging over them are reported to be feeling suicidal.
The court challenge to the Rwanda plan, which had been scheduled for Tuesday 19 July has been adjourned until later in the year but the coalition of campaign groups and trade unions opposing the plan aim to end this inhumane policy.
The Harlow protest was lively with chants of ‘Say it loud, say it clear, refugees are welcome here’. Leaflets were given to passers by explaining what the Rwanda scheme is about and there were stickers and SUTR membership forms available on the stall.
There was a lot of public support with people stopping for selfies with the ‘Stop Rwanda’ posters. These will be tweeted out from @sutrharlow as part of a national twitter storm on Tuesday between 11 am and midday .
Harlow SUTR will have a stall at the Community fete to be held in Harlow museum walled gardens to celebrate 75 years of Harlow next Sunday 24 July.
Ron
2022-07-18 08:07:34
DEPORT THEM! GIVE ME A REASON WHY NOT TOO🤔
Pop
2022-07-18 08:34:26
I am with you Ron.
David Forman
2022-07-18 08:35:21
The entire leadership of the Church of England has condemned deportation of asylum seekers to Rwanda as "an immoral policy that shames Britain."
Theman
2022-07-18 08:41:33
It might be just me, but is this not racist against the good people of Rowanda. Its also a bit funny that these “refugees” pay £10-20,000 to get to the uk this way, yet I personally know someone who immigrated through official channels and it only cost them £5000( could have done it cheaper if they wanted aswell), even though they were a stateless person and would have been accepted as a refugee if they had chose the refugee route. They chose the official route as it meant it costs less and they can work and contribute to this country rather than be a burden.
Theman
2022-07-18 08:43:11
Spelt Rwanda wrong.sorry
David Forman
2022-07-18 09:20:01
Parliament's Home Affairs Select Committee published today (18 July) a report criticizing the Government's Rwanda plan. It stated: "There is no clear evidence that the policy will deter migrant crossings – numbers have significantly increased since it was announced in April." Furthermore, it said, "There is no clear information on the cost of the plan." Plus, "the UK also runs the reputational risk of appearing to wash its hands of its international obligations." The £1.5billion cost of running the asylum system and the delays in processing asylum claims of up to 550 days for a child's application was denounced by the Select Committee as a Government failure. It cited the 125,000 caseload at June 2021 and blamed "Antiquated IT systems, high staff turnover, and too few staff for this slow pace." Trying to solve the problem should require a knowledge of the motivations of those making the oat crossings. However, the report states: "We have no reliable data on why migrants who have reached safe haven in European nation states are sufficiently desperate to reach the UK that they will risk their lives to cross the Channel in flimsy, unseaworthy dinghies and makeshift craft." Those of you reading the report may find a clue in this quote: "Most seek asylum on arrival on UK soil, reflecting the fact that the majority also come from just five countries, all of them disfigured by current or recent war." You can read the Select Committee report at: https://committees.parliament.uk/publications/23102/documents/169178/default/
Pop
2022-07-18 11:21:35
But surely Rwanda needs doctors, scientists and accountants too. We must not be greedy.
Martin
2022-07-18 11:23:19
The same people saying "Send the foreigners back to Africa" are those that pretend Brexit wasn't based on racism.
Pop
2022-07-18 11:51:03
"Illegal" foreigners Martin, and Brexiteers come in all races, most of which said send them back to France. Fingers crossed for Kemi.
SP
2022-07-18 17:46:47
There's no such thing as "illegal" refugees, as per the United Nations Geneva convention. There is, however, clear and legally binding guidance in relation to the responsibilities of the nations signed up to the treaty. Of which the UK is one. There is also no such thing as an "official" or non official route to seek refuge. That's not how being a refugee works. This kind of language is used as propaganda to purposefully influence people's perceptions of the situation. Attempting to criminalise any means/route by which someone could seek refuge is in itself illegal. As is sending them "back" (/on). This government continue to try to change the law in order to break the law. It's not refugees spending public funds instead of making sure it gets to those in need, it's the government and people in authority doing that. Follow @care4calais for more information on the Rwanda detention scheme and how you can help fight it. ✊🏾
SP
2022-07-18 18:55:33
It can be confusing, but this is not the same thing. It is perhaps another example of how language can be misused, either intentionally or mistakenly. The scheme referred to in the article relates specifically to asylum seekers: a person who has left their home country as a political refugee and is seeking asylum in another.
SP
2022-07-18 19:15:51
Wow. I wonder if maybe you aren't quite aware of what it means to need to seek asylum? If perhaps you don't yet know about the places, events and experiences people have endured and are having to seek refuge from? Either that or bored and baiting... so I'll stop biting.👋🏽
Mike
2022-07-18 20:37:31
i always thought you seek refuge in the first normal country you encounter , so that could be france,germany,belgium plus many others, the uk is right at the end of western europe , i get some have family connections but the majority dont so why trek over multiple countries and cross 26 miles of ocean and pay 5k+ for the priveldge
Theman
2022-07-19 09:18:28
SP. So if what you are saying is true, then why bother with borders at all? The problem we have is as soon as you set foot in the uk you join the top 10% richest people on the planet,as measured by the UN and WHO( having access to clean water health care and education is valued at about £95,000 which puts you in the top 10%). This in turn is the main reason so many people want to come here by any means necessary. If you host the best party in town it makes sense to have a doorman. Also remember what happened to Lithuania when the European borders opened, a third of their population left the country looking for greener grass and this did terrible damage to Lithuania. Immigration and seeking asylum are a broad church and not dealing with it in the correct way can have lots of unintended consequences. As a side point though, people should not be crossing the channel and the Med in rubber boats as it is very dangerous and there is a climbing death toll to prove this. So anything that discourages this method would be a good thing as it would be saving lives, which at the end of the day is what it is all about.
Refugeesarewelcomehere
2022-07-19 15:48:33
I think people are being harsh here. It's clear all those who cross the channel are genuine refugees. I know Frontex have said otherwise when it comes to Europe's borders and also that one of the countries with the most asylum applications is Albania crossing the channel. Surely the answer to a housing shortage is more immigration. After all diversity is our strength with seen that with teachers going into hiding and the grooming gangs. Anyone who doesn't believe in mass immigration is just like Hitler. Signed Twinkeldink
Chester
2022-07-20 07:24:54
If these people are not deported via Rwanda and welcomed here, what is the target limit to fill up the UK ? another 20million, another 50million ? and then lets moan about the schools and hospitals not coping
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