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Solihull Protest Against Deportations to DRC

IMCista | 12.04.2007 23:45 | Migration | Policing | Repression | Birmingham

Over 200 people protested today at the immigration reporting centre in Solihull, near Birmingham, against deportations to the Democratic Republic of Congo. The protest, organised by the Congo Support Project, was part of a UK-wide coordinated day of action to mark a "directions hearing" for the Country Guidance Tribunal regarding DRC asylum seekers.

There was a large and heavy-handed police presence and the protest was penned, twice, into the car park after protesters refused to stay in the tiny designated area on the grounds of Sandford House. Protesters, however, broke off after a while and blockaded the road for about 2 hours. Two people were arrested, one also assaulted by an aggressive cop. They were released later on but only because their fellow protesters, in an empowering show of solidarity, refused to leave the site before they were released.

the designated protest area on the grounds of Sandford House
the designated protest area on the grounds of Sandford House

protesters penned into the car park entrance
protesters penned into the car park entrance

banner and placards
banner and placards

cruel killer: Joseph Kabila
cruel killer: Joseph Kabila

the 'thin, blue line'
the 'thin, blue line'

more reinforcements arriving after some pushing
more reinforcements arriving after some pushing

some women do a sit-down to prevent staff's cars from leaving..
some women do a sit-down to prevent staff's cars from leaving..

but police clear the way and they leave
but police clear the way and they leave

protesters start to break off and sit down in the middle of the road
protesters start to break off and sit down in the middle of the road

taking the street
taking the street

two violent and unnecessary arrests
two violent and unnecessary arrests

arrestees taken to Solihull police station across the road from Sandford House
arrestees taken to Solihull police station across the road from Sandford House

a 2-hour blockade of Homer Road
a 2-hour blockade of Homer Road

marching and dancing up and down the road
marching and dancing up and down the road

more reinforcements arriving..
more reinforcements arriving..

to surround the protest and 'kettle' it
to surround the protest and 'kettle' it

penned in again
penned in again

the pen
the pen

the coach arrives but protesters won't leave until the 2 guys are release
the coach arrives but protesters won't leave until the 2 guys are release

which the police, facing all this determination and solidarity, eventually did!
which the police, facing all this determination and solidarity, eventually did!


Some photos of the protest. A detailed report will follow soon.

IMCista

Comments

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Mainstream press reports

13.04.2007 12:52

Birmingham's Evening Mail:

"Scuffles as deportation demo blocks road"

 http://icbirmingham.icnetwork.co.uk/mail/news/tm_headline=scuffles-as-deportation-demo-blocks-road%26method=full%26objectid=18898823%26siteid=50002-name_page.html

BBC Midlands today report about the demo with some background on the situation in the DRC.

You have to go to the mainpage and click the link 'Protest against deportation'

 http://www.bbc.co.uk/england/midlandstoday/

Or if you've got realplayer installed you can click this direct link:

 http://news.bbc.co.uk/media/avdb/regions/west_midlands/video/88000/bb/88484_16x9_bb.ram

birmingham noborders

Well done Birmingham - more reports from Nottingham and London

13.04.2007 14:04

It's great to see you had such a big demo with sit-down and solidarity to release those arrested by the police! At the recent No Borders demo outside Heathrow detention centres the police provided a ridiculously small area there too - hoping to keep us away from the main road and road entrance to the centres I suppose. They were ignored that time as well. There's strength in numbers!

*** No Borders has called a demonstration against the proposed new Detention Centre at Gatwick on Saturday 21st April 2007:
 http://noborderslondon.blogspot.com/2007/03/gatwick-demonstration-21-april-2007.html

*** Tyneside Community Action for Refugees (TCAR) calls on all those opposed to the current attacks on asylum seekers to join us in a national day of action in defence of asylum rights on Saturday 19th May:
 http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2007/04/367904.html

Keep fighting...

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

Video and short report of London protest against deportations to DRC

13.04.2007 16:25

 https://publish.indymedia.org.uk/en/2007/04/367901.html?c=on

Oscar Beard