A counter protest has been announced against ‘fascist groups’ targeting the Holiday Inn hotel in Rotherham. This comes after anti immigration groups held a demonstration against the hotel housing asylum seekers. On the 9th of February, it was shared by Sheffield Action Group that ‘far right white supremacists’ are planning to go to Manvers Rotherham to try and harass refugees and asylum seekers. The @Care4Calais twitter page posted encouraging people to attend the counter anti-immigration post which is set to take place at 1pm outside the Holiday Inn in Rotherham. The South Yorkshire Migration and Asylum Action Group have recently started a petition in regards to migrant rights which they hope reaches the front of Sheffield City Councils next meeting. Emma Rattenbury, a member of South Yorkshire Migration and Asylum Action Group, drafted the petition on behalf of SYMAAG. SYMAAG was formed in June 2007 to campaign for the rights of all migrants in South Yorkshire. Emma said: “Because of the government’s vicious and hostile approach to all migrants, it allows permission to the far right to be vocal and physical against migrants.” “The term hostile environment remains very real.” She believes that there is a misconception that migrants are lucky and privileged by being kept in hotels. Emma explained how they are fortunate to be given £8 a week to live on in these hotels “which are effectively prisons.” The petition currently has around 170 signatures which SYMAAG believe should be enough to push it onto the agenda. Emma added: “I wouldn’t want to point the finger at the council but the mechanism needs sharpening up.” She believes that it is important for “any publicity that counteracts the mythology that comes out about migrants in the press of them supposedly living fine lives in hotels.” The petition can be accessed on the SYMAAG website. |
