A new documentary chronicling the Kenmure Street protest in Glasgow has won critical acclaim for its portrayal of community activism and migrant rights. Everybody to Kenmure Street, directed by Felipe Bustos Sierra, documents the events of May 2021 when UK Immigration Enforcement officers attempted to detain two men on Eid al-Fitr in Glasgow’s most diverse neighborhood. The film has already received a special jury award at Sundance and offers a detailed account of how hundreds of local residents surrounded an immigration van for eight hours until the men were released.
The documentary draws primarily from footage captured by participants on mobile phones and shared via social media, meticulously assembled over four and a half years. Additionally, the film features interviews with those who took part, from seasoned activists to a schoolboy heading to biology class who joined the spontaneous demonstration.
Community Mobilization During the Kenmure Street Protest
According to director Bustos Sierra, the rapid mobilization reflected Glasgow’s deep-rooted activist networks that have existed in the city’s southside for over a century. The protest occurred on Eid al-Fitr, a significant religious holiday, which many participants viewed as a deliberate provocation by authorities. However, as one Muslim activist noted in the film, the community was spiritually prepared following Ramadan, with protesters maintaining their position while sharing food and water throughout the day.
The demonstration was made possible by a single activist who slipped beneath the immigration vehicle and wrapped his arm around the axle. This individual, known only as “Van Man,” has remained anonymous since the protest. In the documentary, his words are voiced by actress Emma Thompson, who also serves as executive producer on the project.
Historical Context and Glasgow’s Activist Heritage
The film contextualizes the Kenmure Street protest within Glasgow’s broader history of social activism, incorporating archive footage of rent strikes and shipyard occupations. Bustos Sierra, whose award-winning debut Nae Pasaran explored Scottish workers’ resistance to the Pinochet regime, draws parallels between past and present struggles. The director grew up in Belgium after his Chilean father fled Pinochet’s coup in 1973.
Meanwhile, the documentary acknowledges the complexity of Glasgow’s identity. Curator Zandra Yeaman from The Hunterian notes that while the city likes to view itself as anti-racist and radical, it was also built on wealth from the transatlantic slave trade. This tension between past injustices and present solidarity forms an important thread throughout the film.
The protest benefited from experienced activists including Roza Salih, one of the Glasgow Girls who campaigned against child detention in the 2000s. Their presence provided guidance and support to newer participants, creating what Bustos Sierra describes as “a safety net around solidarity.” This approach, influenced by Black Lives Matter protests, prioritized creating a safe space that encouraged broader participation.
Changing Political Landscape and Immigration Attitudes
The documentary arrives at a moment when attitudes toward immigration and migrant detention are hardening across the United Kingdom. Reform UK is predicted to win multiple seats in Scotland’s May Holyrood elections, signaling shifting political sentiment even in traditionally welcoming areas. In contrast to the 2021 protest, anti-immigration sentiment appears to be gaining ground.
Pinar Aksu, one of the younger activists featured in the film, emphasizes the importance of sharing such stories during challenging times. She acknowledges that not every protest ends in victory, but maintains that hope remains essential. The documentary serves as both a historical record and a reminder of what community action can achieve when people come together.
Bustos Sierra admits he did not attend the original Kenmure Street protest despite living nearby, assuming nothing positive would result. He now views the film as an act of atonement and emphasizes a crucial lesson: collective action requires showing up. The director reflects that he missed experiencing the collective joy and empathy that participants felt during those eight hours.
Everybody to Kenmure Street will premiere at the Glasgow Film Festival on February 25, where audiences will have their first opportunity to see the complete documentary. The timing of the release, five years after the original events and amid rising anti-immigration sentiment, may spark renewed debate about asylum policy and community resistance in Scotland and beyond.
