CAMP FIGHTS NEW DETENTION CENTRE |
 |
James Haywood |
|
|
September 19 saw the official opening of the “No Borders” camp near Gatwick airport. Activists from across the country gathered in protest against the new Immigration Detention Centre being built inside the airport’s perimeter (there are already 10 in the UK and one in Gatwick already). The camp was originally planned for a field nearer to the airport, but police and local Surrey council worked a brutal campaign of harassment on the farmer on whose land the camp was to take place. Eventually he buckled and the camp had to move. The camp included a range of activities, from workshops on migration to direct actions and protests. On Thursday a welcome event was held in Crawley, the nearest (and biggest) town to Gatwick airport where campers distributed leaflets and their own camp paper, the Gatwick Express. This was followed by a free gig in the evening to raise awareness of the camp. The next day saw protests in nearby Croydon, South London, where the headquarters of the Border and Immigration Agency is based and where the majority of migrants go to register. At the same time a dozen protestors occupied the offices of Virgin Holidays in Crawley to highlight Virgin’s complicity with the Home Office in deporting so-called ‘failed’ migrants back to countries where they face almost certain torture and death. Alphonsus Uche Okafor Mefor is a Nigerian who was booked onto a Virgin flight to be deported back to Nigeria. Through a sustained national campaign he was released and the flight cancelled. Through similar campaigns the airline XL Airways stopped participation in such flights altogether earlier this year. The Saturday saw a massive march in the centre of Crawley to the detention centre Tinsley House, another prison in Gatwick. Hundreds of people marched through the town centre and onto the main road, with some people honking in support and lining the streets in curiosity. The march concluded with a rally outside Tinsley House, which included speeches from asylum seekers talking about their experiences of being a migrants in Britain. The camp was hugely successful in raising awareness of the brutal conditions migrants face in these prisons without charges, lawyers or any legal rights at all. Banners seen at the actions included “No One Is Illegal” “Freedom Of Movement For All” and banners from a range of asylum rights groups. The camp got wide media coverage including BBC South East news at prime time. The camp was marked by unbelievable police harassment and victimization. This reporter got their car photographed when they entered the camp. People were constantly filmed and photographed. At the march on the Saturday two people got arrested and dragged away from the protest by police: one for just refusing to say their name and address (which by law is only required if formally arrested). Although not on the same scale as the Climate Camp at Heathrow this was a very positive step in building a movement on one of the most important issues for the labour movement internationally – immigration. |
|
