On 20 September, Fight Racism! Fight Imperialism! North East collaborated with the local Kurdish community to organise a demonstration against the Borders Act, passed earlier in 2022 and the attempt to deport newly arrived migrants to Rwanda. Over a hundred Kurdish and Iraqi migrants rallied at Grey’s Monument in Newcastle to protest the racist Borders Act and demand the scrapping of the Rwanda scheme. The first attempted flight was grounded on 14 June thanks to last minute legal action and sustained protests. Many of those given removal directions to Rwanda were refugees from Iraq.
Britain has bombed Iraq in seven out of the last ten decades, and was a central participant in the 2003 Iraq war which has destabilised the whole region. When migrants fleeing from the chaos in Iraq land on British soil, they are faced with the brutal brick wall of Britain’s racist immigration system.
Liz Truss’s government plans to launch another Rwanda deportation flight by the end of this year and seeks to forge similar outsourcing agreements with other African nations. All anti-racists must be prepared to mobilise against this, and all incoming attacks on migrants.
Fight Racism! Fight Imperialism! Northeast has organised a mailing list for anyone to be notified when the next flight is announced, so that we can take action. Get in touch to get involved – together we are stronger! [email protected]
