Glasgow Community Stops ICE Raids With Bold Protest

Felipe Bustos Sierra's documentary, "Everybody to Kenmure Street," offers a vital look at Scottish history and recent community action. The film details an impromptu demonstration in 2021 in Glasgow, where residents united against a U.K. Immigration Enforcement raid on the morning of Eid al-Fitr. Using archival footage, re-enactments, and interviews, the movie portrays the neighborhood's solidarity in protecting two Sikh immigrants facing deportation.

The documentary begins by contextualizing the event within broader political traditions and historical struggles. When an Immigration Enforcement van arrived at a Pollokshields brownstone, residents quickly organized. Cellphone clips and resident accounts reveal how an anonymous individual crawled under the van to prevent its departure, inspiring others to join, blocking the van and halting the deportations.

"Everybody to Kenmure Street" showcases the power of ordinary citizens. Residents, from lawyers to Imams, share their experiences, speaking of their actions as natural. Some participants, like the man under the van or a nurse, are represented by actresses such as Emma Thompson and Kate Dickie, who read their accounts to protect their identities.

The film illustrates the growing tension between the community and the police. As more protesters gathered, providing food and support, the situation intensified. The documentary skillfully weaves in historical context, connecting the event to Glasgow's past as a hub of the slave trade and its history of supporting figures like Nelson Mandela.

Ultimately, the film explores themes of power and community resistance. It celebrates everyday people coming together against racist policies, paying tribute to their collective action in reclaiming power and demanding to live unbothered by state overreach. The growing dissent becomes an energizing symbol of solidarity.