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Santa stops dawn raid !

UNITY | 10.12.2012 09:08

Santa Claus, with the help of some of his elves, has erected an 18 foot tall tripod outside the main entrance of the UKBA offices in Glasgow to prevent immigration officials carrying out controversial dawn raids on the families of asylum seekers.

Santa is currently refusing to come down from the tripod, which is decorated with tinsel and Christmas decorations, until the UKBA can promise that no more children will be terrorised by immigration officials breaking into their homes to arrest them.





After Santa got into position (with a little Christmas magic) two dark blue UKBA enforcement vans containing officials setting out to carry out an immigration enforcement action were prevented from leaving. Other immigration officials have been prevented from entering the offices for work. Protesters believe that the vans were on their way to raid another asylum seeker family.

Santa in his traditional red and white costume and with a big white beard is being supported by a group of elves from the Campaign Grotto based at the Unity Centre. Several police are in attendence and so far the atmosphere is very good humoured. Protesters are playing Christmas carols during the action.

Santa said: "I'm taking this action to stop any more children from being detained by the UKBA like little 4 year old son Shahmer who with his two teenage sisters and mum and dad was arrested in his home last week by the UKBA. I am shocked that children can be locked up in this way when the government pledged they would never do this again."

More info from Unity
Unity Centre
30 Ibrox Street
Glasgow
G51 1AQ
0141 427 7992

UNITY

Additions

Another photo

10.12.2012 10:52


:-)

Santa's helper

Comments

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Well done! Fantastic action...

10.12.2012 11:00

Thank you for your effort, wish there were more people like you!

Barry Cade

I'm with

10.12.2012 11:58

the above commenter on this one. Good work indeed.

solidarity

Santa's still there!

10.12.2012 12:14

SAnta's still up the tripod.
Cops are taking a pretty laid back approach to the blockade today. Not sure if they don't want to be seen arresting Snta Claus or if it is something to do with the recent decision of a judge when he threw out the case against three protesters arrested in May this year becasue blocking the gateway but not the road didn't amount to breach of the peace.

Or maybe the climbing team are on holiday.

Anyhow, we've got a sound system, the sun is shining and there's about 20 of us chatting singing and talking to asylum seekers.

Coem and join us!

UNITY!

An Elf

Vans stopped

10.12.2012 13:29


Two UKBA enforcement vans stopped from getting out of the Home Office buildings this morning at about 6.30, just after Santa's tripod was put up blocking the gate.

National Elf Service

Vans stopped

10.12.2012 13:32


Resized pictures:

National Elf Service

OMG they've arrested Santa!

10.12.2012 16:19




Following today's protest outside the reporting centre in Glasgow UKBA officials and police have detained Santa as illegal alien. Rumours that they plan to deport him to the North Pole have not yet been proven true.

UKBA officials refuse to comment on how Christmas will be affected.

Santa managed to stay on the tripod in front of the reporting centre for an amazing nine hours.

One of Santa's little helpers was also arrested for not walking out of the exclusion zone police imposed on the protest during the operation to take him down from the tripod..

Messagfes of support can be sent via
Santa's Solidarity Grotto
c/o Unity Centre
30 Ibrox Street
Glasgow
G51 1AQ

0141 427 7992

UNITY!

Rudolph the red nosed legal observer

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correct facts

10.12.2012 16:51

>> Following today's protest outside the reporting centre in Glasgow UKBA officials and police have detained Santa as illegal alien. Rumours that they plan to deport him to the North Pole have not yet been proven true.


Its not santa you tit. And they arn't deporting him to the north pole
Its a protestor dressed up in a santa outfit.

I notice how in other countries they would just tie a rope to the tripod and the back of a landrover. Here, they carefully build a platform to safeguard the protester's wellbeing.

fa

Hidden Comment

This posting has been hidden because it breaches the Indymedia UK (IMC UK) Editorial Guidelines.

IMC UK is an interactive site offering inclusive participation. All postings to the open publishing newswire are the responsibility of the individual authors and not of IMC UK. Although IMC UK volunteers attempt to ensure accuracy of the newswire, they take no responsibility legal or otherwise for the contents of the open publishing site. Mention of external web sites or services is for information purposes only and constitutes neither an endorsement nor a recommendation.

Don't spoil the magic

10.12.2012 17:04

It''s not Santa? Really?! OMG you are so insightful....

Next you'll be telling me reidneers can't fly.

...


elfy disrespect

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