Bristol Solidarity demonstration with people on hunger strike and protests in UK detention centres
This Friday, 5pm. Corner of Stapleton Road and Easton Way, by Lebaq’s tavern and traffic lights.
Call for a solidarity demonstration this Friday, 20th March 2015, in light of all the different protests in the different detention centres. In Campsfield they are calling for the results of the detention inquiry to be acted on. in Harmonsworth they are calling for an end to detention. We choose Easton and this spot as lots of traffic, easy to get people to at short notice and Detention also affects our community.
if a group you are part of wants to publicly support this demo please email me at mangomelon@riseup.net and i can pass to online publicity.
if anyone has time to put in to this over next few days, a wish list is:
– a basic leaflet to give out – press work -bringing materials for people to write their own signs -collecting any relevant banners and bringing on friday -social media publicity before hand – telling members at BRR and inviting them to come – make another banner (one is already being made)
love Scarlet (Dignity for Asylum Seekers Group)
***Call for solidarity with wave of resistance in UK detention centres***
As you may have heard, hunger strikes and occupations have been happening in 7 of the UK detention centres for a week now. Hundreds have been refusing food and protesting in the centres.
People are speaking out through a blog – Detained Voices https://detainedvoices.wordpress.com/ – and Standoff Films https://www.facebook.com/standoffilms).
This is the biggest uprising against the detention system in the UK for many years. The protests come after a major news channel released secret footage from inside these racist prisons:
Channel 4 (http://www.channel4.com/news/harmondsworth-immigration-detention-centre-undercover-video).
Corporate Watch http://www.corporatewatch.org/news/2015/mar/04/harmondsworth-immigration-detention-centre-secret-filming-mitie
Yet coverage in the UK has been almost entirely restricted to a single news channel -Channel 4: http://www.channel4.com/news/harmondsworth-immigration-detention-centre-hunger-strike).
The only consistent other coverage comes from Russia Today: http://rt.com/uk/240205-detention-center-hunger-strike/.
People detained and involved in the protests ask that their struggle be known by all. They have requested media coverage, presence outside the detention centres and support spreading their demands/messages.
There have been UK solidarity actions regularly over the last week. See Anti Raids: https://network23.org/antiraids/2015/03/12/ongoing-resistance-at-harmondsworth-and-colnbrook-detention-centres/
A bus taking people to the airport due to be deported to Afghanistan was also blocked.
People are now asking for actions of solidarity from outside the UK – at Embassies, detention centres etc. Protests at UK Embassies, especially if shown in non-UK media, would make it harder for the UK news embargo to continue, and put pressure on the UK government.
Please let us know if you organise something. People inside are hugely motivated to know that knowledge of their protest is spreading. Any coverage is a win.
Supportive messages/photos can be sent to detainedvoices@riseup.net. If you would like to speak to a media spokesperson from those detained we can also put you in contact.
Love, rage and solidarity!