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Noise demo at GEO

Z | 22.02.2008 21:52 | Migration | Oxford

Activists opposed to migration controls converged on GEO’s Head Offices in Reading this morning, entertained them with some beautiful melodic tunes and gave them some helpful careers advice.

Ok, so what they actually did was unleash an infernal racket on detention profiteers…

GEO, the company which runs Campsfield immigration removal centre near Oxford, was visited by activists from Bristol, Oxford, Reading, London and elsewhere. They arrived to find private security and PCSOs guarding the offices (obviously monitoring our lists). We discovered, unlike last time, that the employees had not been given the day off. So we split into groups and surrounded their small, ground floor offices and made a racket with drums, whistles etc. At first the employees responded by attempting to move to different sides of the office, however, the noise was so loud that this clearly proved hopeless. Particularly effective was holding the megaphone up to the windows - right next to their desks - and entertaining them with the feedback from the instrument. Police arrived and didn’t do anything.

Leaflets were posted through the door explaining our opposition to GEO’s attempts to profit on the misery of asylum seekers and how the employees should seek alternative careers. These were later spotted on their desks.

It was explained to them that we’d be returning some day next week, speaking out for those who are denied a voice. On our way home, we found intelligence gatherers (suspected NETCU), standing in a busy street ready for us with cameras.

Campsfield was the scene of heavy police repression in December, after an uprising was triggered by an incident in which a detainee, who it appears, may have been resisting attempts to deport him, was beaten by a team of up to 25 riot police. GEO had locked all the cell doors in a bid to quell resistance from fellow detainees, who could only listen to the cries of "they are murdering me!"

Visit GEO at:

10 Suttons Business Park
Sutton Park Avenue
Reading
Berkshire
RG6 1AZ

A video of the event will follow...

Z

Additions

Pictures from noise demo

23.02.2008 09:08

A group of buskers entertain GEO staff
A group of buskers entertain GEO staff

"May I suggest you follow a different career, sir?"
"May I suggest you follow a different career, sir?"

In the courtyard
In the courtyard

GEO not welcome here!
GEO not welcome here!

GEO had unwisely omitted to lock the gate to a small courtyard, which enabled us to surround the place on all four sides.

A number of GEO people managed to do a runner and make their escape in a van, though a couple of brave protestors tried to express some clear and unambiguous opinions to them.

A group of us left before the end - blimey! You could hear the racket right through the estate!

Eh? What? Can't hear you! Speak up, please!


Comments

Hide the following 3 comments

Speaking up

23.02.2008 11:40

Fantastic work you lot! It's true that we can't let people be locked away and shuffled out the country in silence. Well done for shouting out on their behalf. x

bigbang


Noise demos are effective

26.02.2008 10:01

That's great. If offices are your target you can't get much better than a decent noise demo. The Smash EDO campaign has been holding weekly noise demos outside it's weapon-making factory for years and it's been really effective. Many managing Directors have left the company over the years. My advice would be- start regular ones. They can't ignore you if you go every week.

smashy
- Homepage: http://www.smashedo.org


URL correction

07.03.2008 01:09

The smashEDO site is actually:
 http://www.smashedo.org.uk

.