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On a quiet May morning, a van marked “Immigration Enforcement” pulls up on a street in Glasgow. During a dawn raid, two long-standing residents are arrested for alleged immigration violations and face deportation. Word spreads almost immediately, and students, neighbors, members of the local mosque, and others rush to the area. One man forces his way under the van to stop it leaving. Dozens, then hundreds, then thousands of people arrive, filming, chanting, and blockading the van in solidarity.
From executive producer Emma Thompson and director Felipe Bustos Sierra, Everybody to Kenmure Street chronicles the event through interviews with people who were there and footage shot throughout the day. Told from multiple viewpoints, the film captures the chaos and confusion, as well as a sense of joy, celebration, and community. The mosque opens its doors to people who need a washroom, while supporters bring pizzas, water, and snacks.
Thompson appears in the film, re-creating the role of the so-called Van Man. Bustos Sierra places the events in the broader context of centuries of labor activism and direct action by the people of Glasgow.
Everybody to Kenmure Street tells a story of resistance, community care, and everyday people coming together to fight injustice.