A coalition of Sheffield based migrant support groups teamed up to hold a protest following the government’s passage of the controversial Rwanda bill.  

The protest took place at Vulcan House, Sheffield’s Visa and Immigration centre, on 8 May for around two hours.

It was organised by Symaag, the South Yorkshire Migrant and Asylum Action Group, in tandem with 18 other local charities.  

Protestors gave speeches and started chants, with some of the main grievances including the recent passage of the Safety of Rwanda Bill, the conflict between Israel and Palestine, and the actions of the UK government.  

Melinda, an activist who works for the charity Migrants Organise, said: “We are here today in solidarity, in solidarity with our brothers and sisters who are going through this hostile environment. We are seeing their faces, we are seeing their families, we are seeing their stories.”

“This is the message we send to our brothers and sisters: We love you, we see you, we support you, we recognise you, and you are welcome here. 

“The Rwanda bill is an abhorrent act, and we will stand in solidarity until we revoke this illegal law.”

Symaag was founded in June 2007 and aims to ‘campaign for the rights of all migrants in South Yorkshire.’ 

They run regular events which campaign for the rights of migrants, aiming to raise public awareness about the reasons behind why people are forced to migrate and the conditions they face during the process. 

On 22 April the controversial Safety of Rwanda Bill completed its passage through parliament and decreed that the country is safe. 

As a result the foreign office has announced that the deportation of migrants to Rwanda is imminent.