Petition to drop charges against Kenmure protesters launched

Three people arrested during the Kenmure Street protests have launched a petition to drop their charges.

A petition has been launched to drop the charges against three people who were arrested during the Kenmure Street protest last year.

In May 2021, hundreds of protesters blocked a Home Office immigration enforcement van in Pollokshields to prevent the detention of two Indian nationals, Sumit Sehdev and Lakhvir Singh.

After several hours there were loud cheers when Police Scotland released a statement saying the men would be released to protect public safety.

After the protest, in which hundreds attended, police confirmed that two men aged 31 and 32 and a woman who was 23 at the time were arrested.

More than one year on, they are due to appear in court.

A Change.org petition set up by the individuals, who have dubbed themselves the Kenmure Street Three, and launched on the anniversary of the demonstration.

The online petition, which has amassed more than 700 signatures, reads: “This year marks a year since communities in Scotland came together and defeated the racist home office regime, by joining together and successfully demanding ‘they are our neighbours let them go’. 

“We are three people who were violently arrested during the resistance on Kenmure Street last year. 

“Three months ago we learnt that the state intends to prosecute us. Our trials are scheduled for the 3rd and 4th of August. 

“We are looking for anyone who witnessed or has any footage of our arrests to help us with our defence.”

The trio went on to allege that police attended the protest to ‘enable the kidnapping of two men by the racist Home Office’ and claimed that they had been ‘brutalised and locked up’ for taking part in the demonstration.

The statement added that they are “now facing a repressive and distressing court process”

Police Scotland have been contacted for comment.

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