A labour councillor from Bristol has taken part in an "anti-racism demonstration" in London organised partly in response to the government’s Illegal Migration Bill. Marches organised by Stand Up To Racism and the STUC have been held in London, Glasgow and Cardiff today (March 18).
Organisers said thousands of people took part in the action "against racism, Islamophobia, antisemitism, fascism and the far right". On a march to Downing Street, protesters, many of whom were carrying signs reading “no human being is illegal” and bearing trade union logos, said the demonstration is partly a response to the Government’s Illegal Migration Bill.
The 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. Ms Braverman is on a trip to Rwanda this weekend to reaffirm her commitment to the Government’s policy to deport migrants to the African state.
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Amirah Cole, a 58-year-old Labour councillor from Bristol, was at the protest. She said people had turned out en-masse despite train strikes and pouring rain to oppose policies including the terms of the Illegal Migration Bill.
She told the PA news agency: "I feel like it’s really important that we send out a statement to this government to let them know that we’re not happy with the way they’re governing in our names. We need to make it clear that their racist policies, and the destruction of our schools and our National Health system is not acceptable.
"You have to have safe routes for people to come into this country… and (creating) this hostile environment when they get here, that’s not right. Every human being deserves to be treated right and with respect… we’re saying this is enough, we’re not taking this any more."
Pictures posted on social media show a coachload of protesters wearing masks of Gary Lineker’s face, ahead of his return to TV screens to present live coverage of the FA Cup quarter-final between Manchester City and Burnley. Mr Lineker is appearing on the BBC today for the first time since he was told to step back from hosting Match Of The Day in a row over impartiality.
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