Meanwhile, in Calais...
No borders person | 01.12.2010 17:49 | Anti-racism | Migration
In Calais and Dunkerque, 'sans papiers' people are still stranded, still needing support and solidarity, still showing incredible spirit in the face of police oppression and the terrible cold. Please come over and make a difference to their lives and yours.
Recent entry from the Calais Migrant Solidarity blog:
Saturday 27th November
SNOW! Snow has been falling on Calais all day, covering the city in a very beautiful but very unwelcome icy coat. The BCMO cold weather shelter has finally opened its doors as a place to sleep at night. But with no toilet, no running water, only a piece of cardboard and one blanket to sleep on and the constant threat of police once they step out of the door many people have decided to stay in their own squats and camps.
Africa House was raided by police this morning, five vans of CRS made six arrests. The officers were very rough searching people, CMS activists surrounded one officer who was being particularly rough and with all the sudden attention he soon started to behave himself. One man arrested had an injured foot – he was on crutches with no shoe or sock on the foot – he was made to walk over an hour back from Coquelles detention centre in the snow.
After dark, CMS activists brought instruments to Africa House and a small party was started around the fire with singing and dancing. Others were a little more interesting in playing outdoors and so a giant snowball fight took place between No Borders and Africa House. Snowmen, snow crowns and snow barricades were built and for a while everyone forgot that they were in Calais. Once everyone was well and truely soaked through we all gathered around the fire to dry off and were treated to some traditional Sudanese singing and performance poetry. Nothing could spoil the mood, not even the CRS vans lurking in the snowy haze.
http://calaismigrantsolidarity.wordpress.com/
Saturday 27th November
SNOW! Snow has been falling on Calais all day, covering the city in a very beautiful but very unwelcome icy coat. The BCMO cold weather shelter has finally opened its doors as a place to sleep at night. But with no toilet, no running water, only a piece of cardboard and one blanket to sleep on and the constant threat of police once they step out of the door many people have decided to stay in their own squats and camps.
Africa House was raided by police this morning, five vans of CRS made six arrests. The officers were very rough searching people, CMS activists surrounded one officer who was being particularly rough and with all the sudden attention he soon started to behave himself. One man arrested had an injured foot – he was on crutches with no shoe or sock on the foot – he was made to walk over an hour back from Coquelles detention centre in the snow.
After dark, CMS activists brought instruments to Africa House and a small party was started around the fire with singing and dancing. Others were a little more interesting in playing outdoors and so a giant snowball fight took place between No Borders and Africa House. Snowmen, snow crowns and snow barricades were built and for a while everyone forgot that they were in Calais. Once everyone was well and truely soaked through we all gathered around the fire to dry off and were treated to some traditional Sudanese singing and performance poetry. Nothing could spoil the mood, not even the CRS vans lurking in the snowy haze.
http://calaismigrantsolidarity.wordpress.com/
No borders person
Homepage:
http://www.calaismigrantsolidarity.wordpress.com