There has been a demonstration each Monday morning, and the next one is on 11 February 9-10.30am. Please join us!
The trial of four men who were in Harmondsworth IRC at the time of the protest there on 28 November 2006 opened on Monday 14th January 2008 at Southwark Crown Court. The prosecution has now concluded and the defendants have begun to give their evidence
There has been a demonstration each Monday morning, and the next one is on 11 February 9-10.30am. Please join us!
Southwark Crown Court
1 English Grounds
(off Battlebridge Lane)
Southwark
London SE1 2HU
(nearest tube London Bridge)
There will also be a demonstration at the end of the trial. Details to be confirmed.
Harmondsworth is run by private company Kalyx, a subsidiary of Sodexho. The protest came the day after the publication of a damning inspection report by Chief Inspector of Prisons Anne Owers into conditions and treatment of detainees at Harmondsworth. Prison riot squads were drafted in and about 50 detainees left in a courtyard all night, while others were locked in their rooms even though parts of the detention centre were on fire.
See here for photos of the demo on Monday 14 January
http://noborders.org.uk/News/DemonstrationJan14
See here for letter from two of the Harmondsworth 4 to Fight Racism! Fight Imperialism!
http://www.revolutionarycommunist.org/racism/letter_harm4.html
Background
Robert Whalley: 'Report of the Investigation into the disturbances at Harmondsworth and Campsfield House Immigration Removal Centres'.
http://www.irr.org.uk/pdf/Whalley_report.pdf (pdf file, 496kb)
Report on an unannounced inspection of Harmondsworth Immigration Removal Centre
http://inspectorates.homeoffice.gov.uk/hmiprisons/inspect_reports/irc-inspections.html/Harmondsworth1.pdf?view=Binary (pdf file, 464kb)
The Support the Harmondsworth 4 campaign is supported by London No Borders, Barbed-Wire Britain, Campaign Against Racism and Fascism, Fight Racism! Fight Imperialism, All African Women's Group, Women of Colour in the Global Women's Strike, the National Coalition of Anti-Deportation Campaigns London Anarchist Black Cross, Iraq Solidarity Campaign and North West Asylum Seekers Defence Group.