Yesterday, something truly inspiring happened…
…Outside the Royal Courts of Justice in London, and around the country, hundreds of ordinary people came out to stand up for what they believe in. It was a truly special moment and we were incredibly proud. The Rwanda policy has split our country in a way reminiscent of Brexit. Feelings are running high, and it takes courage to speak out. The counter protest was tiny – less than ten people – they were simply loud and unpleasant. We were the many; they were the few. What we witnessed yesterday was so many of you who were willing to stand …
Little Amal says #StopRwanda
Today we will be in court to challenge the Government’s Rwanda Policy. It’s a momentous day for us, and for the thousands of refugees whose lives will be affected by the outcome. So it seems incredibly fitting that this morning Little Amal, the puppet who has become a figurehead for refugees all over the world, is publicly supporting our #StopRwanda campaign. Little Amal is a ten year old Syrian girl. The name Amal is Arabic for “hope”. Last year, in The Walk project, she travelled from the Syria-Turkey border to the UK, meeting crowds and dignitaries including the Pope …
Nikesh says #StopRwabda
We’re delighted this morning to see that the wonderful actor Nikesh Patel has added his voice to the growing tide of support for our #StopRwanda campaign. Nikesh, who will be familiar to many of you as Tom in the BBC One sitcom Starstruck, has appealed to his fans saying “this hostile government wants to deport innocent refugees to Rwanda by force. This will abuse refugees’ rights, cost taxpayers millions, and break international law. Please… send a loud and clear message that you do not support this cruel, inhumane scheme.” Nikesh has a string of high-profile roles to his name, …
Dodie says #StopRwanda
Today we’re super excited to see the amazing dodie speaking out to support our #StopRwanda campaign. dodie is a UK-based singer, songwriter, author and YouTuber with more than 2 million subscribers and over 400 million views on her main channel. Her three EPs have all charted in the UK top 40 albums chart, and her debut album peaked at number three last year. To have a young star like dodie speaking out and encouraging her followers to back our campaign to stop the Rwanda plan is a huge boost. We’ve seen support from people of so many different backgrounds …
Indira says #StopRwanda
If you hear what sounds like Priti Patel herself denouncing the Rwanda Plan, don’t be confused – it isn’t that the Home Secretary has suddenly come her senses, it’s that the fabulous Indira Varma, who does Priti’s voice in Spitting Image, has joined our campaign to #StopRwanda. Indira has a dazzling array of star roles in TV, film and theatre on her CV, including Ellaria Sand in Game of Thrones, and Zoe Luther in Luther, and has worked for campaigning organisations including Amnesty International, the International Rescue Committee and Time’s Up. She is another voice with serious heft demanding that …
Carnival says #StopRwanda
This weekend we’ve had the best time you can imagine at Notting Hill Carnival, meeting countless people who wanted to show their support for #StopRwanda. It’s been a truly exhilarating few days – and it has left us in no doubt that the public totally rejects this Government’s brutal, toxic plan to deport refugees to Rwanda. This was the kind of boost we all needed as we get ready for next Monday, September 5, when we’ll be in court for our legal challenge to the government’s Rwanda plan. Now we really need your help to make as much noise …
Harriet Walker says #StopRwanda
This morning we’re delighted to see the incredible, ice-cool Dame Harriet Walter showing her support for our #Stop Rwanda campaign. Harriet seems to have been in every great TV show of the last few years – Call The Midwife, Succession, Ted Lasso, Downtown Abbey and Killing Eve to name just a few. She’s one of those people who’s really in touch with the mood of the moment, which is one reason she’s supporting the campaign to stop the Government brutally shipping out refugees to Rwanda. With so many influential people like Harriet supporting us, we know it’s possible to …
Miriam Margolyes says #StopRwanda
Outrageously good news! We are absolutely thrilled this morning to see the legend that is Miriam Margoyles OBE joining our #StopRwanda campaign. In her 50-year acting career Miriam has had umpteen unforgettable roles in theatre, TV and film, including, of course Professor Sprout in Harry Potter and Mother Mildred in Call The Midwife. She’s a fully-blown national treasure, and so brilliantly full of life and energy, and so passionate in her support for justice for other people, that she will be a magnificent boost for the campaign. We’d like to say that with her on board, the Government might as …
Kamal’s Story
Today we had some truly brilliant news. Kamal, a 22-year-old Sudanese refugee whose been in detention for two months under threat of being sent to Rwanda, has finally been freed. For two months Kamal has lived in constant fear and anxiety as he worried about was going to happen to him. He knows of atrocities committed by the regime in Rwanda, and even now he’s been released, the thought of being sent there makes him physically shake. It will probably give him nightmares for months. “I spent 18 months travelling through Africa trying to find a way out. In every …
Rwanda Update
In just two weeks we will be back in court to challenge the lawfulness of the Government’s cruel Rwanda policy. To have any chance of stopping this, the time to act is now. We’ve recently learned that the Foreign Office warned Priti Patel that refugees should not be sent to Rwanda due to human rights concerns, including that they could be forced to join the country’s army and sent to fight in neighbouring states. Following this disclosure, the Government has been ordered by the court to deliver more documents next week that had previously been redacted. What else could they …
