Leeds Bradford Migration
Hundreds demonstrate in Leeds against Zimbabwean deportations
15-09-2006 14:39
Zimbabweans from across the UK led a huge demonstration in Leeds on Saturday 16 September against the resumption of deportations of refused asylum seekers back to Mugabe's regime in Zimbabwe [see report]. The protest, called by the Zimbabwe Refugee Community Organisation with the backing of the Refugee Council (Yorkshire and Humberside) and campaign group Leeds No Borders, began outside Leeds Central Library at 12pm. It was addressed by, among others Mafungasei Maikokera, one of the famous Yarls Wood hunger strikers who resisted deportation on a plane bound for Harare. Hundreds of people then spontaneously marched into the main shopping precinct to the sound of samba and song.
The demonstration was called in response to a legal ruling in August that 'refused' asylum seekers no longer automatically face persecution if returned to Zimbabwe - despite the UK government's own very public condemnation of human rights abuses by the Mugagbe regime. These Zimbabweans now face the possibility of imminent deportation. Only last Wednesday in Zimbabwe, the country's main trade union leader was arrested by police for attempting to hold a demonstration which the government had earlier banned. Wellington Chibebe was beaten with batons and rifle butts as the police arrested him and 15 others. Zimbabweans are not alone - the Home Office has recently stepped up its efforts to forcibly remove asylum seekers en masse back to Iraq and Afghanistan.
Read: Demo call out | Report of Original Ruling, October 2005 | Recent legal ruling, August 2006, & Report | Refugee Council briefing | Zimbabwe Situation | Amnesty International Country Overview | Satellite images of Mugabe's community destruction scheme
Links: Coalition to Stop Deportations to Iraq | International Federation of Iraqi Refugees | National Coalition of Anti- Deportation Campaigns | Noborders UK communication channels | No Borders | Asylum Policy.info | Barbed Wire Britain | Peter Tatchell
Read more | 3 comments >>Leeds, City of Asylum Shame
18-05-2006 00:40
Northern Communties Fight Against Fortress Europe
03-10-2005 14:45
Over 500 marched in Bolton on Saturday in solidarity with the Sukula family, against Section 9 of the 2004 Asylum & Immigration Act and for an end to all immigration controls.
The Sukula family is one among many who after the proposed introduction of Section 9 is threatened to be separated and have their children taken into care. Their pledge for asylum was rejected and they do not receive any benefits. Bolton City Council still refuses the implementation of Section 9, currently tested in a few northern councils which would oblige them to take the kids of the Sukula family into care on the grounds that their parents cannot support them. The council argues that this would violate Section 20 of the 1989 Children Act and the cost of it would be higher than continuing paying benefits to the family. The support of the Sukula family and the opposition against Section 9 brought together groups and unions from various northern cities and towns. Two unions decided in a consensus vote of their members to refuse to participate in implementing Section 9. Speakers reminded the crowd of the importance to build local and regional networks of solidarity and resistance aganist the racist policies of the British and EU governments.
UK Indymedia feature: Oct 1st: Migrants and Supporters Protest Against Deportations
Read more >>Noise Demo - Lindholme Detention Centre
30-01-2004 16:13
Saturday 31st January was a Europe Wide Day of Action against Refugee Detention and for Migrant Rights. As part of this day there was a noise demo outside Lindholme Refugee Detention Centre near Doncaster with a good turnout from from Nottingham, Sheffield and Leeds.
The Sheffield Samba Band contributed to the noise and have some photos on their site.
Read more >>Asylum seekers welcome in Leeds!
10-01-2004 17:02
On January 8 Waterside Court, the Home Office Immigration office which processes asylum claims had both the car park and pedestrian gates locked whilst protestors blockaded both entrances and leafleted pedestrians and drivers. Banners were displayed in front of the building with slogans of “No to Destitution, Asylum to all those who seek it” and “No Borders, Freedom of Movement”. The protest lasted 2 hours and ended peacefully.
The protest was to raise awareness and draw attention to the effects of Section 55 of the Government’s Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002 which came into force a year ago today. Over the past year this legislation has made 7,500 Asylum Seekers destitute, many of whom then became homeless.
Full report | Photos | Leeds ARC
Read more >>Leeds Bradford Migration Feature Archive >>
