Video of today's protest against the deportation of Mako and her children

Many of us broke down on this demonstration. We're sick of seeing our friends being dragged away when they go to sign or from their beds in the early hours of the morning. Have you seen the image of Mako's door in the video? It was completely battered in by the police.

If anyone lives near Newcastle then please come and support the second demonstration we are holding for Mako on Monday morning 9.30-11am and please phone and fax Jacqui Smith. Stopping a deportation is purely a political game at the moment. If you get enough media coverage and put enough pressure on the government then some people are 'saved'. But I think we really need to make our presence felt more on the street. Dawn raids are starting again, in Scotland in Tyneside and elsewhere.

The legacy case programme was just a way of pacifying protest and individualising the struggle. Once the goverment have their house in order they will continue to be as brutal. The Labour government is a racist government. the National Front and the BNP may talk about repatriation but the labour Government don't only talk about it, they do it. A government minister boasted in parliament that one person is deported every 8 minutes. We need to get on the streets and strengthen the fight against this state racism.

If you haven't heard about the Northern Conference Against Racism yet please check it out on the TCAR website (www.tynesidecarn.co.uk). There's going to be speakers and workshops from different political viewpoints and addressing many issues. There's still space to host a workshop if you're interested.

FREEDOM FOR MAKO! FREEDOM FOR ALL IMMIGRATION DETAINEES!

Also, we heard from Dungavel detention centre that one of the detention centres has a contagious virus and is in quarantine (this is why they are not moving Mako). It sounds serious. If anyone has time to check this out, please report on Indymedia. we know that conditions in yarlswood are filthy and that mothers are forced to clean baby bottles in the toilets. It's not surprising if there is an outbreak of infection. But we need to make sure enough pressure is put on the detention centre so that the detainees are given proper access to medical attention.