Indymedia Birmingham, UK | In solidarity with refugees, dead and living

In solidarity with refugees, dead and living

IMCista | 15.06.2008 21:02 | Migration | Birmingham

A few dozen people braved the chilling cold last Friday, on the eve of Refugee Week, to protest against the government's treatment of refugees and the horrible conditions they are forced to live in, and to remember those who died while seeking asylum here due to self-harm, denial of medical treatment, destitution, hazardous working conditions or racist attacks. Organised by the Birmingham Anti-Racist Campaign (ARC), the annual Refugee Sleep-out in the grounds of St Philip's Cathedral saw the usual candlelight vigil and name-reading to remember those unfortunate victims who took their own life or died as a result of the fucked-up immigration policies. This was followed by speeches, live music and vegan food. A few then slept there over night in solidarity with destitute asylum seekers.

the names and sad stories of the immigrtion victims

queueing to read out the victims' names and stories

reading out

a member of ARC saying a few words

the dean of St Philip's Cathedral

Banner Theatre playing some songs about migrants and resistance

and another local band (sorry, didn't get the name)

the Food Not Bombs stall

the Paslestine Solidarity Campaign stall

setting up a tent for the sleep-out

Despite the bad weather and fewer people, everything went all right.. except when a pissed (off) homeless person, who was hanging around there with his mates, got a bit out of control for no apparent reason and kicked the Food Not Bombs stall, spilling over the food, and then punched one of the group members in the face and ran away. The incident was just another example of the distorted image the government and mainstream media have created about migrants and refugees: blaming or scapegoating them for the very social problems that they equally suffer from (in this case, housing).

Indymedia Birmingham

In solidarity with refugees, dead and living

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