'Thousands' march through streets in anti-racism demonstration

Organisers said thousands of people took part in the action against racism, Islamophobia, antisemitism, fascism and the far right.

‘Thousands’ march through streets of Glasgow in anti-racism demonstration Twitter / @zamardzahid

Protesters have taken to the streets in Glasgow in an anti-racism demonstration organised partly in response to the UK Government’s Illegal Migration Bill.

The marches, which also took place in London and Cardiff on Saturday afternoon, were organised by Stand Up To Racism and the STUC.

Organisers said thousands of people took part in the action against racism, Islamophobia, antisemitism, fascism and the far right.

Thousands marched through the city to George Square on Saturday shortly after 11am.

The rallies come after controversial legislation was introduced by home secretary Suella Braverman last week which 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.

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.

Ahead of the march, Stand Up To Racism Glasgow said: “We are marching in opposition to the racist policies of a Conservative government at Westminster that is seeking to scapegoat refugees and migrants for a cost of living crisis of its own making.

“The racist rhetoric around an ‘invasion’, ‘small boats’ and the new ‘Illegal Migration Bill’ are all about divide and rule. 

“The March 18 demonstration will also be calling for justice for Sheku Bayoh -‘Scotland’s George Floyd’ in the words of his sister Kadi Johnson-, who died while being restrained by at least six police officers in Fife in 2015.”

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