Maggy Moyo, Right to Remain’s These Walls Must Fall Organiser, reports on the demonstration that she led with the No To Hassockfield campaign.

Maggy Moyo at the demonstration. Photo credit: Simone J Rudolphi

Right to Remain and These Walls Must Fall Collaborated with the No to Hassockfield campaign to organise a national demonstration against immigration detention in County Durham on 19th October.

The demonstration targeted the Derwentside/Hassockfield Immigration Detention Centre, a facility detaining women seeking asylum and right to remain in the UK.

Our goal was to shed light on the harsh conditions at Hassockfield and unite people across the UK against detention in the spirit of solidarity, hope and love. Organising this event was a lengthy and intensive journey, made possible through incredible support from many people and multiple organisations.

This wasn’t our first time supporting the No To Hassockfield campaign – These Walls Must Fall attended their monthly demos previously. Their team has been unwavering in their solidarity with detained women: they have staged over 40 demonstrations outside the centre so far, rallying for change in Durham and nationwide. It was their determination and strength that made us want to work with them. 

We are immensely grateful to groups, including their lived-experience leaders, such as Refugee Women Connect, NACCOM, Freedom from Torture, AVID, Keep Campsfield Closed Campaign and countless others who helped us with the online rally in advance of the demo. Their voices and energy made this day possible, alongside the dedicated teams from Manchester, Liverpool, Newcastle, Durham, Sheffield and from further afield.

Photo credit: Simone J Rudolphi

A Day of Unity and Strength

The sight of people gathered outside the Hassockfield Detention Centre, banners raised high, created a powerful atmosphere of determination and solidarity. One banner read, “Seeking safety is not a crime”—a reminder of our shared purpose. I was on the coach departing from Manchester with These Walls Must Fall campaigners and friends. And from the moment we arrived, the unity in the crowd underscored that we were not alone in this fight.

I was humbled by the support and solidarity from people representing various organisations. I recognized board members and co-leaders from ROHR Zimbabwe, Mr Panyika Karimanzira (Who was also a Right to Remain trustee for years) and Mr Pedzai Mapfumo in the crowd.  When I arrived in this country, they took me under their wing, nurturing my campaigning and activism skills and instilling in me the importance of our voices.

I learned the necessity of using our voices for change, a commitment I now transfer to These Walls Must Fall campaigners and others with lived experience of hostile environments. ROHR continues to fight for a better Zimbabwe, a passion rooted in the struggle against the dictatorship of Robert Mugabe, which resonated with our shared mission here.

I also noticed Durham students and activists in attendance, with some delivering impassioned words about unity and the urgent need for dismantling hostile systems. Seeing youth so driven and united showed that we are moving toward a more hopeful future.

Among them were sisters from Filia. After attending Filia’s women’s conference I came to understand the profound struggles of women internationally. There, I witnessed visible scars, both physical and emotional, hidden from view but deeply felt. These issues have influenced my commitment to migrant justice, intensifying my drive. I often say that carrying this load gracefully doesn’t mean it isn’t heavy. Knowing that some women inside have already endured unimaginable abuse, from rape to female genital mutilation, trafficking, exploitation, domestic violence, forced marriages and much more adds enormous heaviness to my activism.

Photo credit: Simone J Rudolphi

Moving Speeches and Powerful Voices

The protest featured inspiring music performances and speeches from many groups, including WAST (Women Asylum Seekers Together) and SAWN (Support and Action Women’s Network) organisations supporting women in Oldham and Manchester. 

Nora from SAWN reflected on her experience: 

“I have been inside there. I know how it feels. When you come out of detention, you’re not yourself anymore. You can’t present yourself to the world, but through SAWN’s support, I and other women found our feet and moved on with our lives.”

Nora, from SAWN

Photo credit: Simone J Rudolphi

Botshelo from WAST shared: 

“We are here to show solidarity with detained women, to campaign and bring awareness. Women suffer from long-term mental health issues, loss of confidence, self-worth, anxiety, and re-traumatisation. Locking us up here can never be a solution; it’s just damaging.”

Botshelo, from WAST

Photo credit: Simone J Rudolphi

Sakhile Ncube, an activist with ROHR Zimbabwe and a new member of SYMAAG (South Yorkshire Migration and Asylum Action Group)  and These Walls Must Fall, reminded us of the resilience of women everywhere: 

“As women, we endure so much. We carry scars the world cannot see. While we’re encouraged to speak out against abuse and torture, this is the response we receive. I stand in the gap for the women of Zimbabwe, for my African sisters, and for every woman detained in these centres. It’s time we’re treated with the dignity we deserve.”

Sakhile Ncube, ROHR Zimbabwe and SYMAAG

Reaching the Women Inside

Fatou who is a Community Organiser with GMIAU (Greater Manchester Immigration Aid Unit) delivered a stirring message directed to the women detained: 

“Keep fighting. The UK immigration system is broken. It’s not as strong as people think it is. WE ARE STRONGER THAN THEM!”

Fatou Jinadu, GMIAU

In a powerful and unexpected moment, we learned that the women inside Hassockfield Detention Centre could hear our chants and songs. Knowing that they knew they were not alone, that we stood with them outside, validated our presence and made our unity feel even stronger.

Photo credit: Simone J Rudolphi

Manchester Resists Deportations and Manchester No Borders offered critical reflections:

 “We don’t want borders under a Conservative government, nor under Labour. Borders are violent; borders kill. Detention centres and deportations are violent tools of the border regime, and we need to take them down. We believe in freedom to move and freedom to stay in safety. The same system that cages these women leaves children dying in the Channel as they seek safety.”

Manchester Resists Deportations and Manchester No Borders

We heard from Boucka Koffi, Chair of VVIDY (Voice of Voiceless Immigration Detainees- Yorkshire), who said:

“We believe that all those detained behind these walls are political prisoners. They are Freedom Seekers. Colonialism is alive and neo-colonialism is the underlying cause for the forced migration of our people. The systematic illegal detention of our sisters, comrades, must end. Free all the women detained in this abhorrent facility. Free all freedom seekers.”

Boucka Koffi, VVIDY (Voice of Voiceless Immigration Detainees – Yorkshire)

Moses Mbano travelled from Manchester, representing Rapar 

“I felt the energy to voice powerfully today that this emotional and brain damaging facility must be closed. People with lived experience took to the stage to highlight their traumatic experiences. We called for the closure of all detention centres  across the country. Brick by brick, wall by wall these detention centres must fall.”

Moses Mbano, Rapar

Photo credit: Simone J Rudolphi

The No To Hassockfield campaign has been organising resistance to this facility since before it was even opened. Organiser with the campaign, Helen said:

“The National Demonstration was an event full of humanity and solidarity, both for those taking part and the women locked away behind the walls of Derwentside Immigration Removal Centre. The music and speeches conveyed our fervent wish to support those seeking sanctuary and to close the cruel, isolating and inhumane prisons, such as Derwentside,  in which they are locked up.”

Helen, No to Hassockfield

Photo credit: Simone J Rudolphi

The Urgent Need for Change

The psychological toll of detention is severe, with trauma often lasting long after release. We had hoped that the new Labour government would reform the system, building a more compassionate asylum and immigration system.

However, this government is determined to expand the size of the detention estate, planning to reopen Campsfield and Haslar detention centres. Detention remains inherently harmful, especially for people already suffering. We were grateful for a solidarity message delivered by Keep Campsfield Closed Campaign at the demo, and look forward to joining forces to stop the government’s detention expansion plan.

This protest is linked to our ongoing commitment to the Abolish Reporting Campaign with Migrants Organise and the Solidarity Knows No Borders network.

Together, we’re challenging detention practices that extend into our communities, pushing to end harmful reporting requirements. Our focus remains on freeing those detained and preventing more people from facing this violent system by ending immigration detention altogether.

Next Steps Forward

Organising this national protest was transformative for me, bringing together people with firsthand experience of the hostile environment. It has deepened my understanding of our advocacy’s impact and reminded me that our struggle is part of a larger movement.

The solidarity from the No to Hassockfield team and allies across the UK has only strengthened our resolve. Witnessing the strength of our collective voice has filled me with both hope and responsibility.

We will continue to stand side by side until no one is held in these centres, until our communities are no longer threatened, and until every person seeking safety and right to remain is treated with humanity and respect.

We will not be safe until immigration detention ends: that’s why These Walls Must Fall. 

Thank you to the local organisations and allies who travelled with us, gave their time, voices, and solidarity, and made this day a success. Together, we will keep moving forward toward a world without detention, the world where no one is illegal.