David Ramsbotham, Caroline Lucas, Naomi Klein and Philip Pullman are among those calling for charges against the Stansted 15 activists to be dropped and for the Home Office to cease chartering flights for deportation

Last March, 15 people chained themselves around a deportation charter flight for 10 hours to prevent it taking off. The Stansted 15 were subsequently charged with a terrorism-related offence and their trial starts on Monday. If found guilty, they could serve many years in prison. Secret deportation flights take thousands of people from our communities every year. Parents, friends and neighbours are targeted on the basis of their perceived nationality and snatched to fill a flight that the Home Office has chartered. Many critics have argued that like Trump’s “Muslim ban”, these deportations are unjust and racist. Violence and abuse from security contractors have been documented on these flights. Most people would be horrified if they were aware of the nature of this process.

The Stansted action was the first time a deportation flight has been grounded in the UK by people protesting against the immigration system. People who would have been forced on to the flight were able to stay in the UK because of the action, as it gave them time to have their applications heard. People across the UK are standing together to stop the Home Office breaking up families and tearing communities apart. We call for all charges against the Stansted 15 to be dropped and for the Home Office to immediately cease chartering flights for deportation.

David Ramsbotham Formerly HM chief inspector of prisons

Caroline Lucas Green party leader

David Lammy MP for Tottenham, Labour party

Philip Pullman Novelist

Naomi Klein Writer and activist

Patrisse Khan-Cullors Co-founder, Black Lives Matter

Gloria Steinem Writer

Aki Kaurismäki Film director and screenwriter

Emma Thompson Actor and screenwriter

Maxine Peake Actor

Ken Loach Film director

Sue Johnston Actor

Jimmy McGovern Screenwriter

John Akomfrah Artist

David Edgar Playwright

Lowkey Musician

Akala Rapper and poet

Awate Rapper

Dame Marina Warner Novelist

Chris Williamson MP for Derby North, Labour party

Lloyd Russell-Moyle Labour and Cooperative MP for Kemptown and Peacehaven

Emma Dent Coad MP for Kensington

Sian Berry Green party

Caroline Russell Green party

Baroness Helena Kennedy QC

Edward Mortimer Distinguished fellow, All Souls College, Oxford

Revd Robert Wiggs Priest, Chelmsford

Pól Ó Ceallaigh President, Oxford and District Trades Union Council

Penny Wangari-Jones Racial Justice Network

Dr Omar Khan Director, the Runnymede Trust

Lisa Matthews Right to Remain

Asad Rehman Director, War on Want

Nick Dearden Director, Global Justice Now

Farzana Khan Platform London

Eve Ensler Writer

Susan George Writer

George Monbiot Journalist

Owen Jones Journalist

Reni Eddo-Lodge Writer

Ahdaf Soueif Writer

Inua Ellams Poet and playwright

Anders Lustgarten Playwright

Josie Long Comedian

Matthew Herbert Musician

Ezra Furman Musician

Caroline Criado-Perez Journalist

Ellie Mae O’Hagan Journalist

Aaron Bastani Journalist

Ash Sarkar Journalist

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