London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Monday, Jul 14, 2025

Hundreds gather in Manchester to oppose Rwanda deportation plan

Hundreds gather in Manchester to oppose Rwanda deportation plan

Protesters march in city centre as anger grows over Priti Patel’s refugee scheme

Hundreds of Mancunians – many of them from charities, campaign groups and religious organisations – gathered in the city’s St Peter’s Square on Sunday to protest against the government’s plan to deport refugees to Rwanda.

With just two days to go before the first refugees are due to board flights to the central African country, the protest was one of a number taking place across the UK, and was happening amid further legal challenges after the high court ruled last week that the flights can go ahead.

Speakers included Maddy Summerfield of Care4Calais, who described the deportation scheme as “obscene” and told the crowd: “There are 6,500 people in Manchester’s asylum system and we’re here yet again to call for justice for them.”

Other speakers included Martin Empson of the Campaign Against Climate Change, who said: “Many in the global south are facing the consequences of the climate disaster on a daily basis. Simultaneously, they’re met with racism and state oppression at every turn. As a nation, we have to do something.”

He added: “Fighting for a sustainable future means fighting for one that is free from oppression.”

Dr Rhetta Moran, from human rights group Rapar, called for people to “stand shoulder to shoulder” and “keep finding ways to build solidarity”. Her comment that “this can’t carry on in our name” was met with rapturous cheers.

Moran and other speakers referred to Saturday’s events in Peckham, south London, where protesters blocked a van transporting a man who had been arrested for immigration offences.

Karen Reissmann of Unison echoed comments attributed to Prince Charles regarding the Rwanda plan when she said: “From London to Manchester and much further afield, people are appalled by what is happening.”

Speakers voice their opposition to the government’s refugee plan before the march in Manchester.


The Rev Laurie Windle of the Church of England said she had come along to speak for her congregation and added: “Many are appalled by what they see as an ‘ungodly’ asylum system. This piece of legislation goes against the essence of God.”

Meanwhile, members of Manchester’s Syrian community spoke of their own experiences, and said their hearts were “broken by this new and racist policy”.

Other groups present included Stand Up to Racism, Amnesty UK, Safety4Sisters, the People’s Assembly, and the Status Now network plus voices from the Manchester’s Iranian, Iraqi and west African communities.

As they prepared to begin the march, chants rang out of “Say it loud, say it clear, refugees are welcome here.”

Just before they left the square, artist Will Belshah took the mic and told the story of his grandfather arriving in Britain from Baghdad, adding that the deportation plan had left him “too enraged to moderate his language or calm down”.

He concluded: “Anger and civil disobedience are sometimes the only way to change things.”

Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Bal des Pompiers: A Celebration of Community and Firefighter Culture in France
FBI Chief Kash Patel Denies Resignation Speculations Amid Epstein List Controversy
Air India Pilot’s Mental Health Records Under Scrutiny
Google Secures Windsurf AI Coding Team in $2.4 Billion Licence Deal
Jamie Dimon Warns Europe Is Losing Global Competitiveness and Flags Market Complacency
South African Police Minister Suspended Amid Organised Crime Allegations
Nvidia CEO Claims Chinese Military Reluctance to Use US AI Technology
Hong Kong Advances Digital Asset Strategy to Address Economic Challenges
Australia Rules Out Pre‑commitment of Troops, Reinforces Defence Posture Amid US‑China Tensions
Martha Wells Says Humanity Still Far from True Artificial Intelligence
Nvidia Becomes World’s First Four‑Trillion‑Dollar Company Amid AI Boom
U.S. Resumes Deportations to Third Countries After Supreme Court Ruling
Excavation Begins at Site of Mass Grave for Children at Former Irish Institution
Iranian President Reportedly Injured During Israeli Strike on Secret Facility
EU Delays Retaliatory Tariffs Amid New U.S. Threats on Imports
Trump Defends Attorney General Pam Bondi Amid Epstein Memo Backlash
Renault Shares Drop as CEO Luca de Meo Announces Departure Amid Reports of Move to Kering
Senior Aides for King Charles and Prince Harry Hold Secret Peace Summit
Anti‑Semitism ‘Normalised’ in Middle‑Class Britain, Says Commission Co‑Chair
King Charles Meets David Beckham at Chelsea Flower Show
If the Department is Really About Justice: Ghislaine Maxwell Should Be Freed Now
NYC Candidate Zohran Mamdani’s ‘Antifada’ Remarks Spark National Debate on Political Language and Economic Policy
President Trump Visits Flood-Ravaged Texas, Praises Community Strength and First Responders
From Mystery to Meltdown, Crisis Within the Trump Administration: Epstein Files Ignite A Deepening Rift at the Highest Levels of Government Reveals Chaos, Leaks, and Growing MAGA Backlash
Trump Slams Putin Over War Death Toll, Teases Major Russia Announcement
Reparations argument crushed
Rainmaker CEO Says Cloud Seeding Paused Before Deadly Texas Floods
A 92-year-old woman, who felt she doesn't belong in a nursing home, escaped the death-camp by climbing a gate nearly 8 ft tall
French Journalist Acquitted in Controversial Case Involving Brigitte Macron
Elon Musk’s xAI Targets $200 Billion Valuation in New Fundraising Round
Kraft Heinz Considers Splitting Off Grocery Division Amid Strategic Review
Trump Proposes Supplying Arms to Ukraine Through NATO Allies
EU Proposes New Tax on Large Companies to Boost Budget
Trump Imposes 35% Tariffs on Canadian Imports Amid Trade Tensions
Junior Doctors in the UK Prepare for Five-Day Strike Over Pay Disputes
US Opens First Rare Earth Mine in Over 70 Years in Wyoming
Kurdistan Workers Party Takes Symbolic Step Towards Peace in Northern Iraq
Bitcoin Reaches New Milestone of $116,000
Biden’s Doctor Pleads the Fifth to Avoid Self-Incrimination on President’s Medical Fitness
Grok Chatbot Faces International Backlash for Antisemitic Content
Severe Heatwave Claims 2,300 Lives Across Europe
NVIDIA Achieves Historic Milestone as First Company Valued at $4 Trillion
Declining Beer Consumption Signals Cultural Shift in Germany
Linda Yaccarino Steps Down as CEO of X After Two Years
US Imposes New Tariffs on Brazilian Exports Amid Political Tensions
Azerbaijan and Armenia are on the brink of a historic peace deal.
Emails Leaked: How Passenger Luggage Became a Side Income for Airport Workers
Polish MEP: “Dear Leftists - China is laughing at you, Russia is laughing, India is laughing”
BRICS Expands Membership with Indonesia and Ten New Partner Countries
Weinstein Victim’s Lawyer Says MeToo Movement Still Strong
×