A Nigerian national suspected of overstaying his visa was released after 200 protesters surrounded border officers on Evan Cook Close in Peckham yesterday.
Southwark councillor James McAsh raised awareness about the raid with a tweet at 3.05pm calling on campaigners to amass as the immigration raid got underway.
Footage shot in Peckham, south-east London, on Saturday showed a crowd sitting on the ground in front of the vehicle and members of the public shouting “Let him go”.
It is understood the man is Nigerian and was suspected of overstaying his visa.
He was released on immigration bail.
Officers were called to Evan Cook Close shortly after 13:30 BST “to a report of protesters obstructing immigration officers”, Met Police said.
One of the protesters, Eleanor Janega, said people had heard of an “immigration raid” and came to demonstrate.
“We had been sitting here blocking the van and having ice lollies. They brought more police in and tried to break through the crowd by pushing us. We all sat down.”
Labour councillor Reginald Popoola said people had “encircled the van peacefully”, but claimed some people were shoved during the demonstration.
“He’s being released, peaceful protest is powerful.”
The ringleaders are: Labour councillor James McAsh is a self-styled ‘Marxist’ and primary school teacher in south-east London.
Southwark Labour councillor Reginald Popoola was at the protest early, tweeting videos that went viral.
Savan Qadir has helped coordinate immigration raid protests in Glasgow as head of Refugees for Justice.
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