Hundreds gather to protest the Tories’ Rwanda plans

Hundreds gather to protest the Tories’ Rwanda plans
No to offshoring — The government’s brand new immigration deal has sparked outrage from across the political spectrum, with many branding it as cruel and inhumane.

Last week the government announced plans to offshore asylum claims to Rwanda in a brand new immigration deal. The deal, which was announced by Prime Minister Boris Johnson as Home Secretary Priti Patel was in the Rwandan capital Kigali, would see those who reach the UK via channel crossings taken to a processing centre in Yorkshire before being relocated to Rwanda.

The deal was immediately met with outrage and anger from across the political spectrum. Many have referred to it as cruel and inhumane. The Archbishop of Canterbury has referred to it as “ungodly”. Critics of the plan have pointed out the failed iteration of a similar plan signed by Israel and Rwanda, and the widespread misery, pain and horror caused by Australia’s offshoring scheme (one holding site was forced to shut down following widespread allegations of neglect, mistreatment and human rights abuses).

In protest of the plans, hundreds gathered outside the Home Office last Thursday. The crowd heard speeches from those who work in migrants rights organisations, politicians including Nadia Whittome MP, Labour member for Nottingham East, and those at the sharpest edges of the Hostile Environment. After the finishing of speeches, crowds marched through the streets of Westminster to Downing Street and on to Trafalgar Square.

Photographer Aiyush Pachnanda was there to capture the action.

Sign the petition calling on the government to cancel the Rwanda deal here. 

Enjoyed this article? Like Huck on Facebook or follow us on Twitter and Instagram

Latest on Huck

Vibrant photos of New York’s Downtown performance scene
Photography

Vibrant photos of New York’s Downtown performance scene

‘Balloons and Feathers’ is an eclectic collection of images documenting the scene for over two decades.

Written by: Miss Rosen

Picking through the rubble: Glimpses of hope in the US election results
Activism

Picking through the rubble: Glimpses of hope in the US election results

Clambering through the wreckage of the Harris campaign, delving deeper into the election results and building on the networks that already exist, all hope is not gone writes Ben Smoke.

Written by: Ben Smoke

US Election night 2024 in Texas
Photography

US Election night 2024 in Texas

Photographer Tom “TBow” Bowden travelled to Republican and Democratic watch parties around Houston, capturing their contrasting energies as results began to flow in.

Written by: Isaac Muk

In photos: “Real life is not black and white” – Polaroid x Magnum Open Call winners
Photography

In photos: “Real life is not black and white” – Polaroid x Magnum Open Call winners

See pictures from the competition organised by two titans of contemporary photography, which called upon artists to reject the digitalisation and over-perfectionism of our modern world, technology and image-making.

Written by: Huck

In photos: Rednecks with Paychecks
Photography

In photos: Rednecks with Paychecks

‘American Diesel’ is a new photo series that looks at the people, places and culture behind the stereotypes of rural America.

Written by: Ben Smoke

How do you solve a problem like the music industry?
Culture

How do you solve a problem like the music industry?

Beyond the Music is a conference and grassroots festival bringing together people from across the industry to try and grapple with the biggest issues facing it.

Written by: Ben Smoke

Sign up to our newsletter

Issue 81: The more than a game issue

Buy it now