UK Anti-racism Feature Archive
Campaigners Sleep Out in Solidarity with Asylum Seekers, Liverpool
09-11-2003 16:12
"You Should All Be Worried"
26-10-2003 23:00
"You should all be worried because, what happened to my brother Leon could happen to anyone". These were the words of Stephanie, Leon Patterson’s surviving twin sister. Leon died in custody on 27 November 1992 in a Stockport police cell. So far, after twelve years of legal battles and a verdict of unlawful killing, no police officer has been convicted in relation to this incident.
Stephanie was one among many family members who attended the fifth national demonstration organised by the United Families and Friends Campaign (UFF) on October 25th in Trafalgar Square, London.
The UFFC was set up in 1997 as a coalition of family and friends of black and white people who have died in police custody or in psychiatric hospitals. The campaigners seek judicial justice for the family of the victims, demand the end of "institutionalised killings" and want the basic human rights of their communities to be upheld.
EXETER - BRUTAL RACIST ATTACKER FOUND GULITY
25-09-2003 16:06
THUG IS GUILTY OF RACE ATTACKA council roadman has been found guilty of kicking a black woman in the ribs in a racial attack outside an Exeter nightclub. Leroy Murby, 24, had denied screaming racial abuse at the woman before attacking her as she lay on the floor.
Demonstrators besiege Dungavel refugee prison
08-09-2003 18:29
Sticks, boots and bare fists beat a rhythm of resistance on the razor-wire fence around Scotland’s refugee prison, Dungavel, last Saturday 6th September. Over 1,000 demonstrators travelled to the south Lanarkshire countryside to demand the closure of Dungavel and freedom for the men, women and children imprisoned within.
Pics [1, 2, 3,] audio
Iranian Refugee Sets Fire to Himself
06-09-2003 22:00
Israfil Shiri has died after five days of terrible suffering in Wythenshawe Hospital Burns Unit Manchester.
On Thursday 27th August Israfil Shiri, a destitute young Iranian man poured petrol over his body and set fire to himself in the offices of Refugee Action in Manchester. He suffered burns to 80% of his body. He had told his friends he would do it to prove that this government cares more about animals than people fleeing torture and persecution.
"If they cut off all my benefits, prevent me from working and make me homeless, I too will commit suicide". These were the words of another Iranian asylum seeker who, along with 30 other people, attended a meeting on Monday to discuss last Thursday's tragedy and how we can prevent it from happening again.
Israfil Shiri, 30, who has been on life support at Wythenshawe Hospital Burns Unit following the suicide attempt at the Manchester offices of Refugee Action last week, died early on the morning of the third September.
Repression against the Noborder Camp in Cologne, Germany
09-08-2003 16:48
The Noborder Camps have reached Germany. From 31st of July till 10th of august, the city of Cologne was "Out of Controll."
Many of the camps successfull activities to highlight institutional racism, worldwide and local oppression and opposing organised neonazis would have gone unnoticed, but the police repression on Saturday caused an international outcry and drew attention to the camp [pics 1,2,pics on IMC Istanbul,feature on Global IMC, feature on Italy IMC,IMC Poland, IMC Sweden,IMC Athens,IMC Paris,IMC Lille,collection of videoclips, see also Statewatch Report].
A Forum with discussions and workshops was accompanying the noborder camp. [invitation,program]
The next noborder actions are announced for Sept.11-14th when anti-rascist activists will be gathering in Nuremberg and Fürth.
For more information about the police repression and the activities at and of the camp, please read the entire feature.
2003: The summer of Resistance Camping
07-08-2003 22:57
Actions at Oakington Detention Centre
06-08-2003 15:03
Video coverage of this action is now available.
Merseyside Police - attacking the black community
01-08-2003 10:09
Last Friday Night Merseyside police raided the Caribean Centre, on Upper parliment streetNoborder Camp in Krynki, Poland
06-07-2003 11:14
This noborder demo in Warsaw on June 30 ended with 16 arrests for a short time.
A website with templates for appeals to authorities and more info was prepared.
The demo ended a noborder conference and an International Anarchist Meeting preceding the Krynki bordercamp which started on June 2nd.
Frock On and On
18-06-2003 23:00
On 7th of june, the second "Frock On" Festival took place in Glasgow.
"Frock On and On" was helt this time at the Govanhill Neighbourhood Community Centre for the daytime workshops for women, and in the Queenspark Glasshouse for gigs and spoken word in the evening,the artists, audience and the bar in between exotic plants and small animals.
"Our goal is to make links with and strengthen/build on the existing feminist community with aim of making feminism cool again.
Frock On is against homophobia, racism, ablism, ageism, and men bashing.
It's about talking, having fun, making new friends, subverting, resisting, doing it yourself, gossiping/networking, respecting, listening, dancing, eating, rioting, drinking, laughing, relaxing, empowering ourselves and others, clothes swapping, cycling, supporting our music, creating, growing, expressing ourselves, challenging ourselves, learning, scheming, giggling, planning, cups of tea, taking care of ourselves, gaining confidence and self esteem, finding our voices and keeping it real."
More information under http://www.frockon.org
.
National Asylum and Immigration Act breaks human rights
21-02-2003 00:00
Justice Collins, in his judgement yesterday on Section 55, said there were quite clearly breaches of Articles 3, 6 and 8 of the Human Rights Act and this has quite clearly influenced NASS to take the action to suspend issuing negative decisions.
Section 55 and 57 came into force on January the 8th and withdrew all support, such as food, shelter, clothing for refugees who claimed asylum in country without legally giving them the right to work, so to force them onto the streets and into complete destitution.
The National Coalition of Anti-Deportation Campaigns estimates that there are up to 7,000 asylum seekers who have received negative decisions since 8th January 2003. On average 60% of all applicants have been refused support.
These Sections are even more appalling as most asylum seekers in Britain come from war-torn countries such as Afghanistan and Iraq.
[ NCADC| Scottish Refugee Council | Noborder | audio: interview with activist | audio: interview with NCADC ]
Freedom of Movement is Our Right! Support Refugees!
25-01-2003 23:00
with the introduction of “The Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act” on January the 8th, 2003, thousands of refugees will have their support withdrawn and will be pushed into poverty, crime, prostitution, begging and discrimination.
Also new plans include to abolish the right of permanent settlement for those granted 'Refugee Status' or 'Subsidiary Protection'.
statewatch report
full story
Support refugees!
new law
statement of the NCAD
More links:
[National Coalition of Anti-Deportation Campaigns | Refugee Council | BarbedWireBritain | Noborder ]
New law leaves Refugees hungry and homeless
18-01-2003 00:00
The new sections 55 and 57 of the Nationality Immigration and Asylum Act leaves the first persons starving and homeless on the streets.
[Glasgow refugee goes hungry and homeless | Daily Mails War on Refugees and Immigrants]
Anti-Rascist Demonstration in Glasgow after Refugee was stabbed
01-12-2002 00:00
Around 2500 people marched in Glasgow on Saturday, 30 th of november, in the annual anti-racism demo organised by the Scottish Trades Union Council. The night before the annual anti-racism demo in Glasgow, an asylum seeker is attacked and stabbed by a gang in Sighthill, Glasgow.
[full story | the attack on the refugee | physical attacks and verbal ones ]
Tense and confused atmosphere in the Netherlands
08-05-2002 22:00
DUTCH RIGHTWING LEADER SHOT DEAD 8 May 2002On Monday May 6 Pim Fortuyn, the Dutch right-wing populist leader, was shot dead. Fortuyn, notorious for his racist views on asylum policies and Islam, was predicted to take next week's parliamentary elections by storm. Police have arrested a 32 year old Dutch man, working for an environmental organisation, near the scene of the murder. No statements concerning his possible motivation have been made.
The atmosphere in the Netherlands was tense and confused. Several hundred of Fortuyn supporters rioted at the parliament square, chanting racist slogans and throwing stones. Clashes with immigrants were reported. Critics of Fortuyn did not seem to know how to deal with the death of a man they had hoped would leave Dutch politics as quickly as he had entered it.
Although environmental and 'non-mainstream left' groups immediately distanced themselves from the murder, the affair is taking a distinct anti-left turn and is playing in the hands of extreme right. Fortuyn supporters as well as leaders of Belgian and French extreme right parties claim that the "hate campaign of the left" is responsible for the murder. Anarchist collective Eurodusnie among others, has come under physical attack.
More info:
IMC Netherlands | IMC Belgium
War on Palestine continues
31-03-2002 00:00
Latest updates IMC-Palestine | IMC-Israel
Click here for coverage, reports and timelines of events.
After an escalation of suicide bombings in its cities, and using the pretext of 'self-defence', Israel launched Operation Protective Wall on 29 March 2002. What started with a raid on Arafat's Ramallah HQ has turned into the most intense and bloody assault on the Palestinian population of the West Bank since the state of Israel was declared in 1948. The world, by remaining silent, gave Israeli prime-minister Ariel Sharon a green light to inflict as much terror and destruction as deemed fit . And there seemed to be no limit to his capacity for terror. Tanks, bulldozers and APC's rolled into every West Bank city, while missile-firing helicopters lurked overhead. Thousands of Palestinians have been arrested; untold numbers, well into the hundreds, have been murdered or maimed, and cities have been reduced to piles of rubble. Now, the battered and traumatised survivors of this massacre wait for the invasion to stop and for the world to help them.
Urgent Call to Action:Come to Palestine | Electronic action against the occupation | Appeal fron 'internationals' inside PA's compound
Images: The War on Palestine | Recent photos from Ramallah
Video: Tanks & activists in Beit Jala | "Internationals" demo in Bethlehem
Maps of the Occupies Territories.
Article "IMC-Palestine: Be the Media".
Report from inside the masacre in Jenin
Reports from a British international inside PA's compound: 26/04 | 26/04</ a>
Life under curfew by IMC-Palestine. Contact IMC-Palestine on 011-972-2-277-7558
IMC-Italy dossier on Palestine (En)
List of destruction and vandalism of Palestinian installations and infrastructure by the IOF.
Regularly updated compilation of Palestine solidarity protests worldwide.
Nicolas Sguiglia faces imminent deportation
04-02-2002 23:00
NOBORDER ACTIVIST THREATENED WITH DEPORTATIONLATEST NEWS:
22 Feb - Nico was actually served with a deportation order for 3 years.
An appeal to this decision was made by Nico's layer, although the Spanish immigration authorities stated that they were not aware of such an appeal. It is still not clear how the situation will develop, and it seems that his case is up in the air at the present time. No final date for Nico's deportation has been set yet. Meanwhile Nico has to present himself to the police station once in a forthnight. More...
10 Feb - Nico has a chance to stay. More...
Videos: 1 (protest) | 2 (background)
On January 30th, police violently attacked a peaceful protest camp at the gates of the immigrant detention center in Malaga, Spain. They protested against the deportation of immigrants. Two of the protestors were unlawfully arrested, severely beaten and kept in prison for two days. Currently they are on police bail.
On February 1st, the Spanish Immigration Office notified one of them, Nicolas Sguiglia, that a deportation order will be activated on Saturday 9th of February. The appeal process sets the FINAL DEADLINE on February 15th. Nico would be deported to Italy, as he has dual Italian/Argentinean nationality.
Nico is a permanent resident of Malaga, where he has been studying for several years. He has full legal rights to live anywhere in the European Union, however the Spanish government is using a legal loophole that gives full power to the local Government Representative to deport foreigners without charges being proven in court.
The fax campaign in the Spanish State to prevent Nico's deportation has received international support, for example Barbed Wire Britain and The Voice Jena, Germany, have already expressed their support. Also a new London Social Centre supports the campaign.
Background information | Campaign's contact email | No Border network | Foto
Lufthansa goes offline
20-06-2001 22:00
LUFTHANSA ONLINE DEMONSTRATION Jun 20 2001The German airline Lufthansa was the target of one of the first openly publicised "online demonstrations" on Wednesday, June 20th. Coinciding with the annual general meeting of Lufthansa, thousands of protesters logged on to the website of the corporation using specific software, and so temporarily blocked access to the site. Although the company had enough time to prepare counter-measures - the action is part of a wider campaign and was publicised months in advance - its website was repeatedly unaccessible and online booking impossible.
The action highlighted Lufthansa's role in the deportation of refugees. Every year, thousands of refugees are deported from Germany on Lufthansa planes, and the airline benefits heavily from this practise by selling so-called "Deportee-Tickets" to the state. In many cases, refugees have been violently tied to seats by German border police, so far two refugees were killed on Lufthansa planes.
[ Indymedia Germany | Deportation Alliance ]
Zapatista Caravan to Mexico City, Monday, March 12;
12-03-2001 23:00
Monday, March 12: Subcommandante Marcos spoke at the "Paths of Dignity: Indigenous Rights, Memory and Cultural Heritage" intercultural meeting organised by the ENAH (National School of Anthropology and History) - a meeting also attended by writers like Jose Saramago and Alain Touraine. He reflected on the march:"We zapatistas have seen a part of the map of the national tragedy which is not shown on primetime on the radio and television news programs. (...) The zapatistas have also seen part of rebel Mexico, and this seeing themselves and seeing others, is nothing other than dignity. The Mexico of below, especially the indigenous, speak to us of a history of struggle and resistance which comes from afar and which beats in the today of every place. Yes, but it is also a history which looks forward."
Marcos on culture, chess, clocks and boots
