Glasgow Police Try to Stop UNITY Rally, March Still On!
CH | 07.04.2006 17:16 | April 2006 No Borders Days of Action | Anti-racism | Migration | Repression
In a last-minute move, Glasgow's Trades Hall has cancelled the booked rally of asylum seekers and friends there tomorrow afternoon. Strathclyde Police appear to have had a role in the decision a No Borders activist condemned as "racist".
UNITY, the new asylum seekers union along with Glasgow No Borders had planned a joyful march from the Home Office Immigration Reporting Centre at Brand Street to a rally at Trades Hall on Glassford Street. Speakers from the new union, No Borders network and Glasgow Campaign to Welcome Refugees would address the crowd. "The journey from a place where are isolated and kept in fear, to a place where we can come together to support one another is an important step in our healing process. Why are we being denied this?" one said.
UNITY and No Borders Glasgow have condemned the decision as "racist". "There's no other explanation for it," said Tim Waterstone, a spokesman for the campaign. "They say it's because they don't do political events but this is about bringing asylum seekers and supporters together. Why can the STUC or the Refugee Council rally there but not asylum seekers?"
Trades Hall had given no hint of the event being a problem until they were contacted by Strathclyde Police.
The march will go ahead as planned, alternate arrangements for the rally are being made. People are asked to come along and make this the "biggest demonstration by asylum seekers in Scotland ever".
UNITY and No Borders Glasgow have condemned the decision as "racist". "There's no other explanation for it," said Tim Waterstone, a spokesman for the campaign. "They say it's because they don't do political events but this is about bringing asylum seekers and supporters together. Why can the STUC or the Refugee Council rally there but not asylum seekers?"
Trades Hall had given no hint of the event being a problem until they were contacted by Strathclyde Police.
The march will go ahead as planned, alternate arrangements for the rally are being made. People are asked to come along and make this the "biggest demonstration by asylum seekers in Scotland ever".
CH
Homepage:
http://www.openborders.org.uk
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Rally now at Carnival Arts; text of Press Release
07.04.2006 19:57
Asylum Seekers Condemn Glasgow Trades Hall and Strathclyde Police as Racist
Unity, the Union of Asylum Seekers and No Borders Glasgow have condemned as "racist" the last minute decision by Trades Hall to cancel their booking for tomorrow, Saturday 8th April. "There's no other explanation for it," said Tim Waterstone, a spokesman for the campaign. "They say they don't do political events but this is about bringing asylum seekers together. Why can the STUC or the Refugee Council rally there but not asylum seekers?" Trades Hall had given no hint of the
event being a problem until they were contacted by Strathclyde Police.
When challenged about this decision Carol Nelson from the Trades Hall said " Of course if they were electricians marching and rallying this would be fine" but asylum seekers.... " we are afraid it might turn into a rabble!!" This is backed by her boss George Horsepull!
Earlier in the week the Police tried to stop the march insisting it should leave at 9.30am in order not to disrupt shoppers! They then changed the route and insisted we march straight to the Trades Hall instead of George Square.
Unity, along with the No Borders network had planned a joyful march from the Home Office Immigration Reporting Centre at Brand Street to a rally at Trades Hall on Glassford Street. Speakers from the new union, No Borders network and Glasgow Campaign to Welcome Refugees would address the crowd. "They would journey from a place where they are isolated and
kept in fear, to a place where we can come together to support one another is an important step in our healing process. Why are we being denied this?" asked P_, who fled the civil war in the Congo five years ago.
The march will go ahead as planned, alternate arrangements for the rally have been made.
We are calling for a massive support for Unity and all asylum seekers...
bring your cameras and banners and lets support these people in their fight for justice! Lets show Glasgow City Council that ALL people should have the right to rally and have their voice heard!
We would also call for legal observers to come and make sure no more racist incidents occur on this peaceful and rightful march.
Contact: UNITY Centre, 30 Ibrox Street, Glasgow.
Tel: 0141 427 7992
email:
Notes:
* UNITY is the new Scottish Union of Asylum Seekers. The more we are,
the louder our voice. We Belong To Glasgow!
* No Borders Glasgow is a group of people working in solidarity with
refugees and migrants and with other campaigning and action groups,
fighting racist migration controls. We are committed to practical
solidarity, mutual aid and direct action.
* The call to march:
Saturday 8th April
All asylum seekers and friends - Join the protest!
End dawn raids
No more detentions
For the right to work
11.30: Meet outside the Home Office, Brand Street (near Cessnock
underground)
12.30: March to Glassford Street
2.00pm: Reassemble at Carnival Arts.
Tim Waterstone
e-mail:
noborders-glasgow@riseup.net
Homepage:
http://www.openborders.org.uk
hey admin!
07.04.2006 20:11
clumsy