London, UK. Ben Smoke of of Lesbians and Gays Support the Migrants speaks at the protest outside the Home Office calling for an end to all charter flights forcibly taking migrants back to Commonwealth countries taking place now as a secretive flight is expected this week to Pakistan. Many are restrained for the deportation and each accompanied by two or more security guards, and passengers and aircrew on normal services have often refused to take off with people who understandably object to being taken to countries where they may face persecution, harm, isolation or even death. People from E
London, UK. Ben Smoke of of Lesbians and Gays Support the Migrants speaks at the protest outside the Home Office calling for an end to all charter flights forcibly taking migrants back to Commonwealth countries taking place now as a secretive flight is expected this week to Pakistan. Many are restrained for the deportation and each accompanied by two or more security guards, and passengers and aircrew on normal services have often refused to take off with people who understandably object to being taken to countries where they may face persecution, harm, isolation or even death. People from End Deportations, Lesbians and Gays Support the Migrants and Plane Stupid recently stopped a secretive night flight taking 34 people from Stansted to Nigeria and Ghana; those on board included many who have lived and worked in the UK for years and have families and who are entitled to stay here - just like the Windrush families. Some are forcibly deported before their cases are still under legal examination, while others simply cannot afford the fees to challenge poor Home Office decisions or are unable to produce every piece of documentation the officials demand. They also include a high proportion of gay people who have fled from persecution in countries where this is criminal and may result in beatings and death who the Home Office refuses to believe are gay. People at the protest tied pink bands around trees in front of the Home Office. The protest was called at short notice to oppose a deportation charter flight to Pakistan timed for this week, and among the speakers were Deputy Green Party Leader Amelia Womack, Ben Smoke of LGSMigrants, Feisal Haq from NUS Black Students' Committee and Pakistan Press Club UK President Shaukat Dar.
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