Page Content | Events
Features
Newswire
Publish
Links
Regions
Other IMCs
Search
Leeds Bradford IMC | UK IMC | Editorial Guidelines | Mission Statement | About Us | Contact | Help | Support Us

(((i))) Leeds Bradford

Read It. Write It. DO IT!

Protesters cause traffic chaos defending asylum rights in central Leeds

leeds arc | 09.01.2004 12:27 | Anti-racism | Migration

No to Government-sponsored destitution. Asylum seekers welcome in Leeds!

Waterside Court, the Leeds Immigration Office was blockaded by 25 protestors to mark the 1st anniversary of the Government’s cruel asylum legislation.

asylum demo
asylum demo


Press Release
8th January 2004

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.

The legislation gave the Home Office powers to deny asylum seekers access to support services if they did not apply for asylum ‘as soon as reasonably practicable’. Subsequent legislation has attempted to separate asylum seekers from their children if they refuse to leave the country, as well as revoking their right to appeal. This legislation is being challenged under Article 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR).

Groups have all across the country have been taking action today and will be taking action over the weekend to mark their disgust at Section 55 and its impact. There are also many groups nationwide providing what support they can for those made destitute by this heartless, politically motivated legislation.

One participant in the Leeds actions said:

“Leeds is a multi-cultural city and it is important to let refugees know that they are welcome here. We have a duty to give people access to public services who are fleeing from their country because of violence against them, wars or lack of work. They aren’t coming here out of choice - the weathers awful! We should at least show some human kindness.”

For more information contact 07761 478795

leeds arc
- e-mail: lledsarc.riseup.net
- Homepage: http://www.leedsarc.org.uk

Comments

Display the following comment

  1. ...and here are some photos — ?

Write It
Publish your news

Do you need help with publishing?

Search

The Common Place - Leeds The 1 in 12 club - Bradford The Trades Club - Hebden Bridge

Kollektives

Birmingham
Cambridge
Liverpool
London
Oxford
Sheffield
South Coast
Wales
World

Other UK IMCs
Bristol/South West
London
Northern Indymedia
Scotland

IMCs


www.indymedia.org

Projects
print
radio
satellite tv
video

Africa

Europe
antwerpen
armenia
athens
austria
barcelona
belarus
belgium
belgrade
brussels
bulgaria
calabria
croatia
cyprus
emilia-romagna
estrecho / madiaq
galiza
germany
grenoble
hungary
ireland
istanbul
italy
la plana
liege
liguria
lille
linksunten
lombardia
madrid
malta
marseille
nantes
napoli
netherlands
northern england
nottingham imc
paris/île-de-france
patras
piemonte
poland
portugal
roma
romania
russia
sardegna
scotland
sverige
switzerland
torun
toscana
ukraine
united kingdom
valencia

Latin America
argentina
bolivia
chiapas
chile
chile sur
cmi brasil
cmi sucre
colombia
ecuador
mexico
peru
puerto rico
qollasuyu
rosario
santiago
tijuana
uruguay
valparaiso
venezuela

Oceania
aotearoa
brisbane
burma
darwin
jakarta
manila
melbourne
perth
qc
sydney

South Asia
india


United States
arizona
arkansas
asheville
atlanta
Austin
binghamton
boston
buffalo
chicago
cleveland
colorado
columbus
dc
hawaii
houston
hudson mohawk
kansas city
la
madison
maine
miami
michigan
milwaukee
minneapolis/st. paul
new hampshire
new jersey
new mexico
new orleans
north carolina
north texas
nyc
oklahoma
philadelphia
pittsburgh
portland
richmond
rochester
rogue valley
saint louis
san diego
san francisco
san francisco bay area
santa barbara
santa cruz, ca
sarasota
seattle
tampa bay
united states
urbana-champaign
vermont
western mass
worcester

West Asia
Armenia
Beirut
Israel
Palestine

Topics
biotech

Process
fbi/legal updates
mailing lists
process & imc docs
tech