Migrants Solidarity Protests in London

Last week started with a picket outside the French Consulate on Tuesday 9th, called by London and Brighton NoBorders groups to protest against the repression of the Kronstadt Hangar Project in Calais by the French authorities the previous Sunday. A series of protests were held outside SERCO offices in Holborn in solidarity with the hunger strike taking place at Yarl's Wood Immigration Removal Centre by over 75 women detainees. The following day, on Wednesday 10th [Report&Pics], Friday 12th [Report & Pics | Video], and more were called for Wednesday 17th, Friday 19th. Another protest has been called for Friday 26th.

A series of protests have taken place this week in solidarity with  migrants' struggles for the freedom of movement and the freedom to stay. Protesters also called for an end to all border controls, as well as for the closure of all Immigration Removal Centres.

This is not the first hunger strike at Yarl's Wood. In June 2009 a mass hunger strike by families detained at Yarl's Wood detention centre in Bedfordshire was met with violent assaults on men, women and children by Serco security guards who mange the prison on behalf on the UK Border Agency. The detainees also  staged a sit-in in the corridor over their inhumane conditions. See videos of speakers a protest outside Serco offices [1 | 2]

Recent related articles in IMC-London:

• Life is too short to be controlled!
• Arora detention plans defeated!