Protest over free literacy program attended by asylum seekers sparks prejudiced fury

Monday morning in Dalmarnock, Glasgow and a crowd forms outside of a local school — in what appears to be a divisive-and frankly confused-protest regarding asylum seekers accessing education. 

Four local asylum seekers attend weekly literacy classes on school grounds and some local parents are furious.

They aren’t alone. Self-styled paedophile hunter, Alex Cairnie, has been publicising these protests on social media, along with right-wing YouTuber Craig Houston.

Alex runs Spartan Child Protection team, and has had multiple run-ins with the law himself. He’s a proponent of the argument that “legal loopholes” are allowing undocumented asylum seekers to access to school grounds without proper vetting. The council refutes this.

Asylum seekers welcome to Dalmarnock

A couple of dozen protesters, nearly all women, raises signs and as I approach many slink behind their signs. I was told to fuck off.

I’m a journalist … so I must be a liar, right? Apparently it’s my job to label everyone as racist … because that’s what journalists do …. rumbled.

It’s difficult to work out people’s viewpoints when they refuse to speak. I’ve never written about this before, and the reporting on the subject has been varied so far — to say the least. I hoped to gain some clarity from locals. Maybe one of the concerned gentlemen standing across the road might help … No? Maybe I should invest in camera insurance.

“What’s the scoop, pal?”

Fortunately, one parent came over and showed me a message the school sent out that morning. The message advised that if their child arrived late, they should bring a packed lunch. The protesters were furious. Some families kept their children home. The very disruption caused by the protest seemed completely lost on everyone.

It’s a desperate attempt to deflect attention. The protesters insist this isn’t about race or asylum seekers. Even Alex says, “most of the people I catch are white British men” — not untrue. Most perpetrators of abuse are partners, close friends, family, colleagues, not strangers who arrived on small boats. Pretending otherwise endangers everyone.

Trying to reason with angry parents is impossible. No one cares about the facts, but here they are anyway:
This programme has run for years and has always been open to all local residents.

If this is truly about safeguarding, why have they only noticed it now?

There are four mothers with children at the school-attending English classes for four weeks.

They’re not even in the actual school; the annexe where classes are held is in a separate building. The council has repeatedly stated that no one is ever left unsupervised. There is no indication the classes will stop or move.

Social mobility? Fuck that!

These schemes aren’t unique to Dalmarnock. As Alex himself says:

You can enrol in these courses up and down the country; you don’t even need to have children.

What’s the problem? Offering people, including asylum seekers, opportunities for social mobility?

To be fair, Alex was the main moderating influence today. He stepped in several times to calm the crowd. He ensured a journalist was safe when she was suddenly surrounded by agitated protesters. But that’s the point-this isn’t normal.

What the fuck is going on? At one point, a group of us across the road are being accused of laughing about children being stabbed … just wild. The police, while friendly, stood by, spectating from a distance.

There were seemingly few legitimate concerns.

Half the people at the protest don’t have children at the school. Try having a rational conversation with someone screaming about “undocumented men.”

If they’re learning English, send them to the library… there’s a perfectly good community space.

Did you see that thing last week, the guy or woman in Midlothian who had a knife in a school… they could do anything.

Two sides to every story…

Speaking to the school, things sounded far less dramatic. Protesters claim no one is speaking to them. The council and school, however, have been liaising directly with two representatives from the local parent group.

Protesters also say the school is punishing families by removing lunch for late pupils. In reality, lunch orders are booked at 10am and delivered from another school to reduce waste. No child will go hungry, staff have said.

At best, one might say that communication could have been better — but even that feels like a stretch. Communication doesn’t excuse the other side’s bad-faith stance.

Impartiality or enabling?

I’m not here to call anyone racist or lie about what I saw. Maybe the man who threatened to smash my camera was having a bad morning.

I’m sure some people genuinely believe this is a threat. But why the outrage now?

Perhaps I’m being intolerant. One protester must have sensed my hesitation — she pounced. Why are “they” — in reference to asylum seekers — being allowed in there at all? “I can’t even park my car in the car park.”

Maybe these protesters had a point. Maybe I was missing something. I kept thinking about it as I watched that same parent later stroll through the school gates, onto the campus. I watched her as she got into her car, started the engine and drove away.

Maybe she’s onto something after all…

Featured image via author/Barold