12:35pm. About 250 protesters gathered outside the gates of Colnbrook and Harmondsworth detention centres near Heathrow. Two buses from London, one from Leeds and a number of minibuses from Brighton, Manchester and Reading carried people there despite bad weather conditions. There are also many refugees on the demo: Kurdish, Iranian, Congolese and others.
Protesters are blockading the main entrance at the moment. Quite surprisingly, police presence is very low: about 30 cops. Demonstrators haven't (yet) been 'penned in' or anything. The atmosphere is quite chilled. Loud noise from the Samba Band.
Detainees (especially in Colnbrook) are aware of the demo as they had been leafleted inside beforehand. There are reports that some of those caught with leaflets have been subjected to repressive measures (put in isolation cells etc.). Hopefully the demonstrators will manage to speak on the phone to some detainees inside and get more information.
Detainees (especially in Colnbrook) are aware of the demo as they had been leafleted inside beforehand. There are reports that some of those caught with leaflets have been subjected to repressive measures (put in isolation cells etc.). Hopefully the demonstrators will manage to speak on the phone to some detainees inside and get more information.
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