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Vol. 79/No. 33 September 21, 2015
UK rally protests gov’t attacks on immigrants
BY PAUL DAVIES
MANCHESTER, England — Under a banner reading “No human is illegal,”
hundreds took part in a protest here Sept. 4 against the government’s
response to the rising numbers of people seeking refuge in the country.
“This crisis is not new,” Sandhya Sharma from Safety 4 Sisters told the
rally. Pointing to similar protests around Europe she added, “Something
is changing. People are being stirred into action.”
In addition to Safety 4 Sisters, sponsors included the Greater
Manchester Immigration Aid Unit, the Communist League, the Kurdish
Cultural Centre and others.
The United Kingdom “is not full up,” said Denise McDowell, director of
the Greater Manchester Immigration Aid Unit. “We want people to come to
be safe and have a better life.”
In recent days, the government has shifted its policy to admit a limited
number of asylum-seekers from refugee camps in the Middle East.
“Now the government is trying to impose another division — between so
called ‘legitimate political refugees’ and ‘illegitimate economic
immigrants,’” said Jonathan Silberman, Communist League candidate for
mayor of London. “We should reject their attempts to divide us. This is
a life-or-death question for the working class. Our unions should fight
to open the borders of the U.K.”
“Until the criminal regime in Syria is gone, more refugees must be
allowed to come. Treat these people as humans,” said Yasmine Nahlawi
from Rethink, Rebuild Society (Syrian Community in Manchester).
The protest started with a spirited performance by the Women Asylum
Seekers Together choir. “The U.K. has only accepted 216 refugees from
Syria so far. Let’s work together to change that,” choir member Dianne
Ngoza told participants.
Related articles:
Europe: Refugees break out of camps, win solidarity
Thousands face cops, say: ‘We are human!’
Open the borders to refugees now!
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