Vigil marks the beginning of Kenmure Street Festival of Resistance

The Festival of Resistance started with a silent observance, inviting people to remember refugees who have perished due to hostile policies.

It marks a year after Pollokshields residents Sumit Sehdev and Lakhvir Singh were detained by Home Office employees and let go after hundreds gathered on the street, not allowing the van to leave.

A vigil took place in Kenmure Street, Pollokshields, yesterday, to commemorate last year's protest.

Organised by local charities, including The Pollokshields Trust and Govanhill Baths Community Trust, the festival continued with a symbolic peace tree planting in Turtle Park before today's event, filled with music, food, speeches, theatre and more.

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Fatima Uygun, Trust Manager of Govahill Baths Community Trust said; "We believe that Scotland is a welcoming place, it should be a place that has empathy towards those wanting to come and live here, escaping violence.

"We think Scotland had a wonderful history of welcoming immigrants for over a hundred years and we think that needs to continue.

"The majority of people in Scotland are supportive of refugees and migrants and don't agree with the xenophobia that's being spewed.

"I think it's really important that we can articulate that and show people that we are all united, we can come together and celebrate but also, as a community make a stand against quite barbaric policies that are being pushed through."