Refugee Solidarity in Glasgow
autonomista | 23.06.2004 22:17 | Migration
Film screening to kick-start campaign.
Hundreds of refugees are being put of their flats with no benefits and no right to work. Unable to return to their countries they're in a stateless limbo on Glasgow's streets. Camcorder Guerillas film, WELCOME, tells the story of three homeless refugees.
Hundreds of refugees are being put of their flats with no benefits and no right to work. Unable to return to their countries they're in a stateless limbo on Glasgow's streets. Camcorder Guerillas film, WELCOME, tells the story of three homeless refugees.
"Welcome" - THE CAMPAIGN GROWS
Report on the Camcorder Guerillas film "WELCOME" @ Glasgow Film Theatre, Saturday 19 June 2004.
Hundreds of refugees are being put of their flats with no benefits and no right to work. Unable to return to their countries they're in a stateless limbo on Glasgow's streets. "WELCOME" tells the story of three homeless refugees.
"My life is frozen", says a Zimbabwean maths teacher who's been living "underground" since being evicted from his Red Road flat. "I'm existing, but it's not a life. I don't think Scottish people know we are being chucked on the street, or they would not allow it to happen."
The film screening was followed by an audience discussion with a panel of speakers. People voiced their anger, asked questions of the council and discussed ways to take action. On the panel were Robina Qureshi of Positive Action in Housing, Margaret Woods of Glasgow Campaign to Welcome Refugees, Michael Collins of Glasgow No Border Group, Mary Senior of STUC, Tom Harrigan of Strathclyde Police, and Tim, a volunteer who put up a destitute refugee in his home.
In addition to promoting practical aid through raising cash or giving up a spare room to support destitute refugees, the campaign called for a mass lobbying of MPs and MSPs, and for direct action to stop the evictions.
Councillor Irene Graham stated that if the council refused to carry out Labour’s policy of enforced destitution they would be acting illegally and run the risk of having their mandate to run Glasgow removed - which would have terrible consequences for everyone in Glasgow. The City Council’s stance - that it’s hands are tied by Home Office policy, and so must carry out the evictions - was challenged by several people, including SSP Councillor Keith Baldassara, who said his call for a council moratorium on evictions was rejected before it could even be discussed, ruled “incompetent” as it could lead to illegal action.
It was pointed out by Michael Collins of Glasgow No Border Group that this government is constantly finding itself in the courts, being found guilty of breaches of Human Rights legislation with every new immigration and asylum rule, and so it is Blair and Blunkett who are leading the council into illegal action – and an attack on the human rights of one person or group of people is an attack on the human rights of us all, and must be resisted, breaking their laws if necessary.
Speakers from the floor recalled the direct action tactics of the struggle against the Poll Tax, with occupations of the offices of the Sheriff’s Officers who carry out evictions, and physically preventing evictions with blockades like those used to stop the warrant sales.
REPORT FROM CAMCORDER GUERILLAS: www.camcorderguerillas.net
Over 250 people came to the GFT on Saturday for the Camcorder Guerillas refugee event. We screened both 'Welcome' (on refugees being put out of their houses) and 'Voice-Seekers' (refugee testimonies, made in collaboration with the Scottish Refugee Council). Many of the audience were moved to tears.
Two MSPs were in the audience (Rosie Kane SSP & Sandra White SNP) and promised to lobby the Scottish Exec. They stressed how effective letters to MSPs are in getting them to take action. The Parliament’s Cross Party Group on Refugees is screening 'WELCOME' at the Scottish Parliament on June 30. (e-mail your MSP now and recommend they go see the film:
http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/msps )
A team of volunteer Stewards distributed Action Packs to the audience with a 'toolkit' on:
*How to offer a room to an evicted refugee
*How to donate to the Destitute Refugee Fund
*How to lobby your MSPs, MP, and the Home Secretary
*Campaigns to join
*Information so you can put the arguments for fair and humane treatment of refugees
[copies of Action Pack and the video available from the Guerillas]
Stewards also collected e-mail addresses to keep people informed of the refugee campaign; and handed out VHS copies of 'WELCOME' for audience members to show to family, friends, and neighbours - at meetings in their community centre, mosque, church, trade union, school or college.
Previous orders of 'solidarity rate' copies of the video (from supporting organisations like the NUJ and Amnesty International) financed us to be able to give out VHS's for only £1 or free to anyone who didn't have £1. Audience donations after the film raised over a thousand quid (£1,023.98) for Positive Action in Housing's Destitute Refugee Fund, and some folk from the audience have already offered rooms in their own homes to homeless refugees through PAIH's emergency accommodation list.
The event showed how effective independent video can be in campaigning. The GFT screening was only a start - hundreds of VHS copies are now out to multiply the campaign. Camcorder Guerillas will run a members' master class soon on campaigning use of video and how to include thinking about the audience in the planning stages of Guerilla films.
WELCOME hit the mainstream media too: the event was trailed in the Evening Times, the Scottish Mirror & the Observer [articles to go up on CG website], as well as the GFT programme and the Refugee Week programme. It's not often that Indymedia quote the Sunday Mail, but there article on the Police reaction to the situation was a positive step forward.
REPORT FROM NATIONAL COALITION OF ANTI-DEPORTATION CAMPAIGNS:
Un-removable asylum seekers to be forced to work
Last week Home Secretary David Blunkett said something had to be done about these failed asylum seekers 'with no visible means of support' who were congregating on the streets of UK towns.
'It made perfect sense,' he added, announcing changes to the Asylum and Immigration Bill, to give them an opportunity to do community work in exchange for 'basic subsistence'
It does not make sense that the Home Secretary can refuse someone asylum and then refuse to deport them to their country of origin because in the view of the Home Secretary it would be unsafe to do so.
It makes even less sense that if the amendment is passed that they will have to do community work to receive food and a roof over their heads.
NCADC are of the opinion that the Home Secretary should withdraw this particular amendment and replace it with one, which will allow failed asylum seekers, who cannot be removed to be granted Discretionary Leave (DL), which would allow them to work.”
Steve Cohen, No One is Illegal group, writes:
What is worse, is there is also provision for local authorities to sign contracts for the use of this slave labour. I would suggest as a bare minimum that everyone writes to their local councillors demanding that their local authority refuses to employ such slave labour.
CAMPAIGNING LINKS:
Recent reports of actions in solidarity with refugees and migrants in Britain and beyond:
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/topics/migration
Camcorder Guerillas: http://www.camcorderguerillas.net
Positive Action in Housing: http://www.paih.org
The National Coalition Of Anti-Deportation Campaigns. http://www.ncadc.org.uk
No Border Network: http://www.noborder.org
email Glasgow No Border Group:
autonomista23@yahoo.co.uk
No One Is Illegal: http://www.noii.org.uk
Updates on asylum legislation: http://www.asylumpolicy.info
Glasgow Autonomous Project: http://www.glasgow-autonomy.org
The idea for the film came from a discussion following a refugee solidarity workshop at Glasgow Autonomous Project’s anarchist dayschool last December: ( http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/regions/scotland/2003/11/281954.html)
INTERNATIONAL DIRECT ACTION:
June 13th 2004 - "Sans-papiers" march from Brussels, Belgium (HQ of the EU) to Matignon (residence of the French PM in Paris) to protest against the policies of Fortress Europe:
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2004/06/293365.html
June 5th 2004 - more than 2000 'sin papeles' (immigrants without papers) occupied Barcelona Cathedral and the church Santa Maria del Pie:
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2004/06/293353.html
June 2004 - A flotilla of boats sailing 4,000 kms to Australia's internment camp on Nauru, http://www.flotilla2004.com
May 7th 2004 - Report on occupation of a detention centre in construction near Paris:
http://www.noborder.org/item_archive.php?id=291
January 31st 2004 - European Day of Migrant Struggles – reports from around Europe:
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2004/01/284666.html
August 2004 - No Border Camp at Rivesaltes, near Perpignan in French Catalonia:
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2004/05/291136.html
August 25th 2003 - Fence around Dutch detention centre dismantled.
http://www.noborder.org/item_archive.php?id=278
July 28th 2003 - Migrants escape during action at detention camp, Bari Palese, Italy
http://www.noborder.org/item_archive.php?id=267
Report on the Camcorder Guerillas film "WELCOME" @ Glasgow Film Theatre, Saturday 19 June 2004.
Hundreds of refugees are being put of their flats with no benefits and no right to work. Unable to return to their countries they're in a stateless limbo on Glasgow's streets. "WELCOME" tells the story of three homeless refugees.
"My life is frozen", says a Zimbabwean maths teacher who's been living "underground" since being evicted from his Red Road flat. "I'm existing, but it's not a life. I don't think Scottish people know we are being chucked on the street, or they would not allow it to happen."
The film screening was followed by an audience discussion with a panel of speakers. People voiced their anger, asked questions of the council and discussed ways to take action. On the panel were Robina Qureshi of Positive Action in Housing, Margaret Woods of Glasgow Campaign to Welcome Refugees, Michael Collins of Glasgow No Border Group, Mary Senior of STUC, Tom Harrigan of Strathclyde Police, and Tim, a volunteer who put up a destitute refugee in his home.
In addition to promoting practical aid through raising cash or giving up a spare room to support destitute refugees, the campaign called for a mass lobbying of MPs and MSPs, and for direct action to stop the evictions.
Councillor Irene Graham stated that if the council refused to carry out Labour’s policy of enforced destitution they would be acting illegally and run the risk of having their mandate to run Glasgow removed - which would have terrible consequences for everyone in Glasgow. The City Council’s stance - that it’s hands are tied by Home Office policy, and so must carry out the evictions - was challenged by several people, including SSP Councillor Keith Baldassara, who said his call for a council moratorium on evictions was rejected before it could even be discussed, ruled “incompetent” as it could lead to illegal action.
It was pointed out by Michael Collins of Glasgow No Border Group that this government is constantly finding itself in the courts, being found guilty of breaches of Human Rights legislation with every new immigration and asylum rule, and so it is Blair and Blunkett who are leading the council into illegal action – and an attack on the human rights of one person or group of people is an attack on the human rights of us all, and must be resisted, breaking their laws if necessary.
Speakers from the floor recalled the direct action tactics of the struggle against the Poll Tax, with occupations of the offices of the Sheriff’s Officers who carry out evictions, and physically preventing evictions with blockades like those used to stop the warrant sales.
REPORT FROM CAMCORDER GUERILLAS: www.camcorderguerillas.net
Over 250 people came to the GFT on Saturday for the Camcorder Guerillas refugee event. We screened both 'Welcome' (on refugees being put out of their houses) and 'Voice-Seekers' (refugee testimonies, made in collaboration with the Scottish Refugee Council). Many of the audience were moved to tears.
Two MSPs were in the audience (Rosie Kane SSP & Sandra White SNP) and promised to lobby the Scottish Exec. They stressed how effective letters to MSPs are in getting them to take action. The Parliament’s Cross Party Group on Refugees is screening 'WELCOME' at the Scottish Parliament on June 30. (e-mail your MSP now and recommend they go see the film:
http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/msps ) A team of volunteer Stewards distributed Action Packs to the audience with a 'toolkit' on:
*How to offer a room to an evicted refugee
*How to donate to the Destitute Refugee Fund
*How to lobby your MSPs, MP, and the Home Secretary
*Campaigns to join
*Information so you can put the arguments for fair and humane treatment of refugees
[copies of Action Pack and the video available from the Guerillas]
Stewards also collected e-mail addresses to keep people informed of the refugee campaign; and handed out VHS copies of 'WELCOME' for audience members to show to family, friends, and neighbours - at meetings in their community centre, mosque, church, trade union, school or college.
Previous orders of 'solidarity rate' copies of the video (from supporting organisations like the NUJ and Amnesty International) financed us to be able to give out VHS's for only £1 or free to anyone who didn't have £1. Audience donations after the film raised over a thousand quid (£1,023.98) for Positive Action in Housing's Destitute Refugee Fund, and some folk from the audience have already offered rooms in their own homes to homeless refugees through PAIH's emergency accommodation list.
The event showed how effective independent video can be in campaigning. The GFT screening was only a start - hundreds of VHS copies are now out to multiply the campaign. Camcorder Guerillas will run a members' master class soon on campaigning use of video and how to include thinking about the audience in the planning stages of Guerilla films.
WELCOME hit the mainstream media too: the event was trailed in the Evening Times, the Scottish Mirror & the Observer [articles to go up on CG website], as well as the GFT programme and the Refugee Week programme. It's not often that Indymedia quote the Sunday Mail, but there article on the Police reaction to the situation was a positive step forward.
REPORT FROM NATIONAL COALITION OF ANTI-DEPORTATION CAMPAIGNS:
Un-removable asylum seekers to be forced to work
Last week Home Secretary David Blunkett said something had to be done about these failed asylum seekers 'with no visible means of support' who were congregating on the streets of UK towns.
'It made perfect sense,' he added, announcing changes to the Asylum and Immigration Bill, to give them an opportunity to do community work in exchange for 'basic subsistence'
It does not make sense that the Home Secretary can refuse someone asylum and then refuse to deport them to their country of origin because in the view of the Home Secretary it would be unsafe to do so.
It makes even less sense that if the amendment is passed that they will have to do community work to receive food and a roof over their heads.
NCADC are of the opinion that the Home Secretary should withdraw this particular amendment and replace it with one, which will allow failed asylum seekers, who cannot be removed to be granted Discretionary Leave (DL), which would allow them to work.”
Steve Cohen, No One is Illegal group, writes:
What is worse, is there is also provision for local authorities to sign contracts for the use of this slave labour. I would suggest as a bare minimum that everyone writes to their local councillors demanding that their local authority refuses to employ such slave labour.
CAMPAIGNING LINKS:
Recent reports of actions in solidarity with refugees and migrants in Britain and beyond:
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/topics/migration Camcorder Guerillas:
http://www.camcorderguerillas.net Positive Action in Housing:
http://www.paih.org The National Coalition Of Anti-Deportation Campaigns.
http://www.ncadc.org.uk No Border Network:
http://www.noborder.org email Glasgow No Border Group:
autonomista23@yahoo.co.uk No One Is Illegal:
http://www.noii.org.uk Updates on asylum legislation:
http://www.asylumpolicy.info Glasgow Autonomous Project:
http://www.glasgow-autonomy.org The idea for the film came from a discussion following a refugee solidarity workshop at Glasgow Autonomous Project’s anarchist dayschool last December: (
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/regions/scotland/2003/11/281954.html) INTERNATIONAL DIRECT ACTION:
June 13th 2004 - "Sans-papiers" march from Brussels, Belgium (HQ of the EU) to Matignon (residence of the French PM in Paris) to protest against the policies of Fortress Europe:
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2004/06/293365.html June 5th 2004 - more than 2000 'sin papeles' (immigrants without papers) occupied Barcelona Cathedral and the church Santa Maria del Pie:
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2004/06/293353.html June 2004 - A flotilla of boats sailing 4,000 kms to Australia's internment camp on Nauru,
http://www.flotilla2004.com May 7th 2004 - Report on occupation of a detention centre in construction near Paris:
http://www.noborder.org/item_archive.php?id=291 January 31st 2004 - European Day of Migrant Struggles – reports from around Europe:
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2004/01/284666.html August 2004 - No Border Camp at Rivesaltes, near Perpignan in French Catalonia:
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2004/05/291136.html August 25th 2003 - Fence around Dutch detention centre dismantled.
http://www.noborder.org/item_archive.php?id=278 July 28th 2003 - Migrants escape during action at detention camp, Bari Palese, Italy
http://www.noborder.org/item_archive.php?id=267
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