Civil Rights Caravan on the Road!
lonnek | 26.09.2000 14:58
Refugees, migrants, asylum seekers and supporters are travelling throughout England in support of victims of racial violence and all those who are affected by the border regime.
A form of grassroots resistance, the Caravan will be publicly launched in London, Parliament Square, September 28, 10a.m. It brings together black families, asylum-seekers and those defending their rights. While World Bank and IMF are meeting in Prague to facilitate free movement of capital across national borders, the Caravan joins the protests by demanding free movement of people, for example by visiting the S24 Conference in Brighton. In each place the Caravan visits, they are joining events and anti-racist festivals, enabling dialogue between refugees, migrants and activist supporters. In Leicester, a public meeting with 300 migrants, refugees and supporters was held, and an ongoing asylum-seekers support group was set up.
In Oxford, the Caravan joined the "Barbed Wire Europe" Conference and made empowering contributions during the demo at Campsfield. Through pickets, demonstrations and visits at hostels and detention centers, the Caravan
exposes the conditions under which asylum-seekers are forced to live. Wherever the Caravan goes, it has an energising effect, encouraging refugees and migrants to organise themselves and giving supporters and anti-racists the opportunity to understand their specific concerns and demands. Most of the people on the Caravan are refugees and migrants themselves. They come from Iran, Irak, Turkey, Somalia, China, Columbia, the Czech Republic and other countries. In their speeches, one thing becomes very clear: "We don't want sympathy, we want action!" as a member put it.
The 'Caravan movement' started in Germany in 1998 as a form of resistance by refugees, migrants and their supporters to raise awareness and fight anti-asylum measures. It was inspired by the Intercontinental Caravan that brought 400 Indian farmers to western countries. In England, the Caravan was initiated by the National Civil Rights Movement (ncrm) and the campaign against Racism and Fascism (carf). It already has brought together a wide-ranging network of refugees and migrants self-organisations and support groups, antifascist, socialist and anti-racist groups and campaigns, Chumbawamba and the Asian Dub foundation. As an ongoing
process, this network could turn the Caravan's demands into reality:
- Full rights for asylum-seekers, undocumented workers, migrants and victims of racist attacks
- The right to asylum and an end to detention, deportation, vouchers and dispersal
- An end to racism and racist violence.
A national demonstration against racism will be held on Saturday 14 October, the anniversary of the disappearance of Ricky Reel. Assemble 1 pm, Embankment, London.
To find out when the Caravan comes near your place, check
http://www.ncrm.org.uk/caravan
In Oxford, the Caravan joined the "Barbed Wire Europe" Conference and made empowering contributions during the demo at Campsfield. Through pickets, demonstrations and visits at hostels and detention centers, the Caravan
exposes the conditions under which asylum-seekers are forced to live. Wherever the Caravan goes, it has an energising effect, encouraging refugees and migrants to organise themselves and giving supporters and anti-racists the opportunity to understand their specific concerns and demands. Most of the people on the Caravan are refugees and migrants themselves. They come from Iran, Irak, Turkey, Somalia, China, Columbia, the Czech Republic and other countries. In their speeches, one thing becomes very clear: "We don't want sympathy, we want action!" as a member put it.
The 'Caravan movement' started in Germany in 1998 as a form of resistance by refugees, migrants and their supporters to raise awareness and fight anti-asylum measures. It was inspired by the Intercontinental Caravan that brought 400 Indian farmers to western countries. In England, the Caravan was initiated by the National Civil Rights Movement (ncrm) and the campaign against Racism and Fascism (carf). It already has brought together a wide-ranging network of refugees and migrants self-organisations and support groups, antifascist, socialist and anti-racist groups and campaigns, Chumbawamba and the Asian Dub foundation. As an ongoing
process, this network could turn the Caravan's demands into reality:
- Full rights for asylum-seekers, undocumented workers, migrants and victims of racist attacks
- The right to asylum and an end to detention, deportation, vouchers and dispersal
- An end to racism and racist violence.
A national demonstration against racism will be held on Saturday 14 October, the anniversary of the disappearance of Ricky Reel. Assemble 1 pm, Embankment, London.
To find out when the Caravan comes near your place, check
http://www.ncrm.org.uk/caravan
lonnek