Byron latest: High Holborn branch targeted by protesters following immigration claims
Protesters have gathered outside Byron Hamburgers' restaurant on High Holborn three days after demonstrators released cockroaches and other insects in the branch.
More than two thousand people had said on Facebook they would attend the protest at the High Holborn branch.
It has been arranged in response to widespread claims that Byron acted in conjunction with the Home Office to organise a sting operation on 4 July against 35 members of its staff who had breached immigration rules.
Right now in front of Byron in Holborn! Protest against inhuman action against its own workers. pic.twitter.com/oFlDEdtVUq
— Marcin Hordyniec (@marchingMarcin) August 1, 2016
Big demo outside #byron tonight against their disgraceful treatment of migrant workers. No human is illegal! pic.twitter.com/3SkGeZYCYq
— Stand Up To Racism (@AntiRacismDay) August 1, 2016
Read more: Byron's immigration backlash – is it fair?
The protest has been organised by the Unite Hotel and Restaurant Workers Branches, the United Voices of the World Union, London Latinxs, Black Dissidents, London IWW, Lesbians and Gays Support the Migrants, South London Solfed, War On Want and Global Justice Now.
On Friday evening, protesters from London Black Revs and the Malcolm X Movement released thousands of crickets, locusts and cockroaches into Byron's Central St Giles and Holborn branches.
Activists release thousands of bugs in a busy London restaurant this weekend. https://t.co/XuhM5jsdId #boycottbyron pic.twitter.com/E6Kvgu01Ob
— huck (@HUCKmagazine) July 31, 2016
Read more: Byron serves up beefy profits in 2015
In a tweet this evening, Byron reiterated its previous statement about the Home Office investigation:
Here's a statement from us regarding the recent Home Office investigation. pic.twitter.com/QSNO1tgvk1
— Byron (@ByronBurgersUK) August 1, 2016
Both Byron and the Home Office have said several of the group's restaurants were visited by Home Office staff.
Neither has confirmed reports that a training day was organised in which workers were brought to London and then arrested by Home Office staff, as has been claimed.