Amnesty group protests agaisnt the nationality and border bill

IN order to mark the end of the national Week of Action in support of asylum seekers, the Frome Amnesty group, in conjunction with the Wells and West Wiltshire groups organised an event in Frome town centre on Saturday October 23rd.  

Members and supporters gathered on the pedestrian bridge to protest against the Nationality and Borders bill, currently going through Parliament.  

Group coordinator Judy Hosegood reports, “Many passersby stopped and joined us as we floated 40 different coloured origami boats on the river Frome in solidarity with people seeking asylum who cross the Mediterranean and the English Channel at great risk to their lives. The numbers of people crossing the Channel has increased as there are so few ways to reach the UK in the pandemic.  

“This bill will make it almost impossible for people fleeing wars and persecution to claim asylum legally. Shockingly it will also give immunity to border force officials who cause the death of migrants as they cross the Channel if the death happens ‘in good faith’.  

“The bill is in contravention of the International Refugee Convention that the UK signed 70 years ago. The UNHCR has stated that it is possible for the UK to protect its borders and remain within the law of the Convention.  Letters were signed to be sent to our MPs in protest against this bill.”