An anti-deportations group is urging Scots for donations to help asylum seekers keep in touch with their loved ones and seek out legal advice in case of emergencies.
The No Evictions network has launched a GoFundMe for essential mobile phone top ups following yesterday’s protest in the Pollokshields area of the city.
Money raised from the fundraiser goes towards essential top ups for asylum seekers across Scotland.
Asylum seekers can then use the top-ups to keep in touch with friends and family, speak to lawyers, interpreters and doctors and access online education.
Kindhearted Scots have so far donated almost £6,500 to the cause following yesterday’s remarkable show of community action.
The No Evictions group describes itself as a grassroots campaign that is run by people with ‘experience of the asylum system and their allies’ in Glasgow.
Activists behind the group wrote: “We are asking for your help in continuing to provide pay-as-you-go mobile phone top-ups for those in our network.”
The No Evictions network were among the hundreds of protesters that prevented a Home Office immigration raid from going ahead in the Pollokshields area of Glasgow yesterday.
Several locals gathered around an immigration enforcement van on Kenmure Street after word spread of two men being detained.
After spending more ten hours locked inside the van, Lakhvir Singh and Sumit Sehdevi were freed in front of a cheering crowd.
The Home Office’s decision to carry out the raid was slammed by Scotland’s top politicians - with the likes of Nicola Sturgeon and Anas Sarwar coming out in condemnation.
Writing on Twitter, the First Minister said: “I disagree fundamentally with the @ukhomeoffice immigration policy but even putting that aside, this action was unacceptable. To act in this way, in the heart of a Muslim community as they celebrated Eid, and in an area experiencing a Covid outbreak was a health & safety risk.”
Speaking after his release, Lakhvir told the Daily Record : “I’ve been astonished and overwhelmed by the support I’ve received from the people of Glasgow.
“We are so grateful for the support.”
Don't miss the latest news from around Scotland and beyond - Sign up to our daily newsletter here.
