TWO children from Bolton who face being deported to their war torn homeland, joined a protest against the Government's policy of removing asylum-seeking pupils from their classrooms.
Sarah and Destin Sukula, aged five and seven, together with their older brother Daniel, aged 16, and sister Flores, aged 19, took part in the "Stop Deporting Children and Students" rally in Manchester city centre on Saturday, organised by asylum-aid organisations.
All four attend local schools and colleges and are living with the threat of being taken from their home in Netherfield Road, Great Lever, together with their parents - Kiala and Ngiedi - and the rest of their family.
On Saturday they joined campaigners fighting to keep them in the UK, and took to the streets of Manchester.
They were protesting against Government policy, which according to leading asylum organisations can result in children being removed from their classrooms and taken to deportation centres.
The Sukulas joined a 500-strong demonstration which included teachers, social workers and trade unions as they gathered at Manchester University's Students Union on Oxford Road to make "umbrellas with a message" for the march to symbolise protection. They then marched to the Peace Gardens in St Peter's Square.
Friends from Sarah and Destin's school, Lever Edge Primary, also joined the march.
A similar rally was also being held in London at the same time.
Bolton Sixth form student, Flores, who addressed the rally, said: "I spoke about how here, all of us have a future. The little ones know only England. But all this will be taken away from us if we are sent back to the Congo. Here by staying in schools and colleges we can make a contribution this society."
Leading campaigner, Jason Travis, added: "The demonstration showed how people from different sectors are against Government policy.
"There were members of other campaigns who are fighting to stop children from being taken out of school and being deported.
"We all need to be united in our opposition against Government policy on asylum."
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