Pupils from Craigroyston and Broughton High Schools were in the audience at North Edinburgh Arts on Thursday night  for the first public screening  of The Glasgow Girls in North Edinburgh (writes Lynn McCabe). 

The film tells the true story of  seven pupils from Drumchapel High School who, with the support of their teacher, set up a  campaign after the  police removed their friend Agnesa  and her family from their home in the middle of the night. One of those Drumchapel pupils, Roza Salih, joined the discussion at North Edinburgh Arts.

Still wearing their pyjamas, the family was  driven in the back of a van to Yarl’s Wood Immigration Removal Centre where they were detained awaiting deportation. Agnesa and her family were Romas and had come to Scotland to escape persecution  in their homeland. 

After the screening, Roza (below, right) explained how she and her friends  were shocked when they discovered what had happened to their friend and  that dawn raids, detention and deportation were  the norm for  failed asylum seekers.

The schoolfriends responded by putting together a petition demanding the safe return of Agnesa and her family.  When the petition  failed they took their campaign to the wider community who took part in candlelit vigils and peaceful demonstrations. The local community also took part in a look-out system to alert families about the imminent arrival of removal vans.

Agnesa and her family were eventually released, but the victory was bitter sweet as the girls realised they were unable to  save everyone.

Roza talked about the impact the campaign had on her life and the pride she had in the local community of Drumchapel  for  getting behind their campaign and challenging the inhumane treatment of asylum seekers.

Members of the audience talked about North Edinburgh’s proud history of fighting racism through campaigns such as  Muirhouse Anti-Racism Campaign and North Edinburgh Welcomes Refugees.  It was  pointed out that North Edinburgh was rising to the occasion again by collecting clothes, toiletries, tents and sleeping bags to help  children and adults stranded in terrible conditions in refugee camps throughout Europe. Members of the Womens International Group (WIG) were overwhelmed at the generosity of local people who have handed in warm clothes, jackets, shoes, sleeping bags and toiletries for children and adults stranded in refugee camps across Europe (above).

Anna Hutchison (above, left), a member of the Women’s International Group, reported that more than 60 women from North Edinburgh have met twice in the last few months to discuss issues around asylum, immigration and racism and are working on ideas for building a more caring and supportive community. Their plans include:

§  Learning about  the causes of immigration  and exploring what causes people to flee their countries

§  Challenging the myths about asylum seekers and refugees being promoted by certain politicians and sections of the media

§  Developing ways of reaching isolated people and making them feel welcome in this community

§  Celebrating  different cultures and highlighting the benefits of diversity

§  Building links and trust between different groups

A meeting to take forward these ideas  will be organised at  the beginning of November.  Anyone wishing to get involved in this group should contact:

Lynn McCabe at Royston Wardieburn Community Centre on 552 5700, email lynn.mccabe@ea.din.sch.uk 

or

Julie Smith at North Edinburgh Timebank on north.timebank@volunteeredinburgh.org.uk.

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