Sheffield students stage protest against Hostile Environment immigration policies

Sheffield students joined campaigners and community groups yesterday as part of a national weekend of action against Hostile Environment immigration policies.

They called for Justice for Simba, a local man who was charged £100,000 for NHS life-saving treatment because of his immigration status.

Simba called for people to find their humanity and said: “The inhumane treatment I have received over the past 10 years was the cause of my life-changing stroke. I will never get those years back, but I insist on justice both for me and for everybody else persecuted by the Hostile Environment and the awful treatment of people seeking safety.”

Socially-distanced protesters held up signs and chanted in support of Simba. Under the banner of ‘Solidarity Knows No Borders’, the group took action in support of the Fair Immigration Reform Movement (FIRM) Charter,  which calls for urgent immigration system reform.

The University of Sheffield’s student group STAR (Student Action for Refugees) attended the event with signs and banners.

The date marked the tenth anniversary of the death of Jimmy Mubenga, who was suffocated whilst being held down by G4S guards on a deportation flight.

Phil, a local campaigner, said: “All migrants irrespective of their immigration status deserve dignity and not hostility.

“This weekend of action has shown that more people across the UK realise we are all human and that we must stand together against ignorance, racism, and the Hostile Environment immigration policies which impact people – like Simba – here in Sheffield.”

Sheffield students who want to get involved with STAR can visit their Facebook page here.

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