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Protest against deportations to DRC

Oscar Beard | 12.04.2007 22:41 | Migration | London | World

Today, at 12pm protestors gathered outside the Home Office on Marsham Street in London to protest the deportations of people to Democratic Republic of Congo.

The protest was small, but the police presence was big. One CCTV van and three paddy wagons, the ratio between police and protestors was two-to-one.

The protest was organised by the Congo Support Project (CSP) and also attended by representatives of Co-ordination of Congolese in the UK (CCUK).

Despite only twenty to thirty people attending, the demonstration was lively, loud and there were some damn colourful shirts on display. Protestors sang and chanted for the entire two hours, and seemed ready for more noise as they left when their permission to protest had expired and the police moved in to usher people on.

CSP vice-co-ordinator Akito Tongomo and CCUK co-ordinator and local community leader Ackys Kituba gave to very good interviews and drove the issue home with straight hard-hitting talk.

One interesting thing, which is in this video, is the plain clothes man in the beige sports jacket. He appeared around the end of the protest and seemed to be giving orders to the police officers, who treated him with a lot of respect. The man in question had an ID tag hanging from his neck, not unlike my press card, but the card itself was hidden inside his jacket. Whether he was from the Home Office or something else is uncertain. He didn't look like he'd just stepped out of an office though.

Another interesting scenario was Oscar Beard decided to dress up, as much as his wardrobe would allow, and there was no trouble for him, which is unheard of in these last two years. No police came to check his press pass, or even talk, make up laws to halt him from filming, or even deny him the right to document the situation.

Amazing what a shirt and a nice pair of shoes can do. Better keep it up.

Oscar Beard

Additions

Links to other DRC deportation protests in the last few days

13.04.2007 16:20

Solihull Protest Against Deportations to DRC

 https://publish.indymedia.org.uk/en/2007/04/367907.html

Over 250 DR Congolese on Anti-Deportation demo in Birmingham

 https://publish.indymedia.org.uk/en/2007/04/367931.html

Police Mar Peaceful Protest in Solihull Against DRC Deportations

 https://publish.indymedia.org.uk/en/2007/04/368011.html

Oscar Beard


audio report

16.04.2007 22:05


Download: He's a bigger killer - mp3 12M

Audio broadcast on Indymedia Global report - Resonance 104.4fm / Resonancefm.com on Monday 16/4 - 10.30 pm - 11.30pm

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Comments

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solidarity from Newcastle

13.04.2007 00:01

The demo looks great. Please consider joining the national day of action in defence of asylum rights in 19th May.

 http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2007/04/367896.html

Tyneside Community Action for Refugees
mail e-mail: tynesidecarn@yahoo.co.uk


A luta continua!

13.04.2007 09:17

Thanks for that film. Excellent.

The plainclothes cop or whatever he was was actually so cocky that he and the other cop withm him nearly got run over by a taxi as they walked down the middle of the road without looking!

There have now been 3 demos at the Home Office against deportations to DRC. I'm sure there will be more, as the attacks on Congolese people step up. People involved with the Home Office demos have also attended some of our demos outside Communications House Immigration Reporting Centre and we look forward to more united action.

Fight Racism! Fight Imperialism!


Nottingham demo reports

14.04.2007 10:54

These can be found via NBN website below. Nice one Birmingham!

No Borders Nottingham
- Homepage: http://www.nobordersnottingham.org.uk/


congratulations

15.04.2007 23:51

congratulations for the nice report;let's keep the momentum.

COSMID
( Congolese Students Mind for Development)

COSMID
mail e-mail: congolipanda@yahoo.co.uk