For great reports and pics from Nottingham’s Mayday events of 1st & 3rd May, featuring the No Borders Nottingham banner on the Saturday parade through the city centre, please see
Notts Indymedia coverage .
Also see a nice report by Manchester No Borders about their participation on the M’cr Mayday demo: http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2008/05/398488.html
Continue reading No Borders Nottingham at Mayday 2008
Following an earlier protest on March 28th, a midday demonstration took place in Nottingham city centre because of a “directions hearing” for the Country Guidance tribunal on the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) taking place today, that could result in denial of asylum cases and deportations of Congolese refugees living locally and across Britain. DR Congo is not safe and the British state must not be allowed to get away with sending people back who have come here to escape persecution.
Around 60 people demonstrated in Nottingham’s market square over the lunchtime period, some singing in protest. 500 information leaflets were handed out and the response from passers-by was positive. The protest then made its way to The Bridewell courts area next to the canal. More details to follow soon, regarding the result of the hearing.
Nottingham – additional report with photographs: DRC Deportations Demo (April 12) & Demonstrations against Congo deportations – a report on both demos on the Nottingham and Notts Refugee Forum home page.
Reports from other April 12th demos … Birmingham: Over 250 DR Congolese on Anti-Deportation demo in Birmingham & Solihull Protest Against Deportations to DRC & Police Mar Peaceful Protest Against DRC Deportations in Solihull – includes photos. London: Protest against deportations to DRC – includes video.
Continue reading Demonstration in Nottingham against Congo ‘safety’ ruling
Further to the great news update below that things are looking better for Dafuris in the UK generally as well those we have been worried about in Nottingham, all three of the Nottingham detainees are back and very grateful for all the support. However, we are hearing alarming stories of mistreatment. Abdul Hadi is diabetic and was not allowed to take his insulin or antibiotics with him when he was cast out of Colnbrook with nothing but an underground ticket to help him get back to Nottingham. If it wasn’t for his friends who have worked so hard to help him he might not have made it back and to the QMC, where he was put on a drip. Others, including from Nottingham, were similarly released from Oakington without travel tickets and stranded destitute in Cambridge. Friends helped over the phone to get them get to a station and talked to the travel clerk to pay for tickets. How many others have been released like this? Complaints should be made and if you have time to help with this we can put you in touch with NNRF people who have been doing such wonderful work on this case. Many thanks to those people and we are really glad to have everyone out and relatively safe.
The British state makes criminals out of people demanding the right to work. Baktial Omar from the Meadows has been sent to prison for 8 months because he needed money so much that he was forced to forge his documents so that he could get a job. Read article on Indymedia: http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2008/04/395649.html and ‘Read more’ for Nottingham Evening Post coverage.
Continue reading 8 months in prison just for trying to earn a living
UPDATE: Don’t bother with writing to Jacqui Smith, Lovey is already at heathrow but do fax Virgin Atlantic! She is due to fly out at 20.30 hrs tonight. But below is the model fax
Lovey has been a volunteer with Refugee Action (in Nottingham) from July 2006 to 27th March when she was detained while signing on at Loughborough. Read more for more info and about what you can do to help.
Continue reading Lovey Nkomo detained
At 2pm on Saturday 29th March, on the day of the Zimbabwean elections, folks gathered to highlight the dangers that people who have fled Zimbabwe will face, if they are forcibly returned there.
No Borders Nottingham group [in association with Zimbawean asylum seekers] had called for the demonstration at our shinny new [temporary] Speakers Corner, on the edge of the Market Square, Nottingham. Some who had gathered there were asylum seekers who have come here for help, and their supporters demonstrating their wish that these people should not be turned away. Original story, audio interviews & lots of great photos can be found at http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/regions/not…/03/395015.html
Addition – Link to more interviews here: http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/regions/not…/04/395427.html
Continue reading Notts Indymedia coverage of Zimbabwe demo on March 29th
Today in seven UK cities including Nottingham and Leicester, the Congolese community and their supporters held demonstrations to focus attention on government plans to categorise the ‘Democratic’ Republic of Congo as a ‘safe’ country to return people who have been fleeing the violence to the UK in search of security. In Nottingham people rallied and marched, highlighting that the Congolese who have already been deported face a very uncertain fate.
Between 60 and 80 people, including other asylum seekers (showing wonderful and much appreciated solidarity) & supporters from the host community, joined our vibrant Congolese community. We were-well received by people in the Market Square, who took the leaflet and asked for more information, and many signed our petition. We also learned more about the hundreds of people killed in Congo in recent weeks. Several Congolese did excellent interviews with the BBC locally too, and the coverage they gave on the local news tonight was postive and accurate (See the video! – Leicester then Nottingham then Congo [attachment=4]) . We then marched to the Bridewell Magistrates Court and sang and even danced for sanctuary (See the photos from Nottingham demo!- click to see full size images). More photos expected on Notts indymedia.
Continue reading Congolese demonstrate in Nottingham and Leicester
No Borders Nottingham and our friends in the Zimbabwean community will be demonstrating in favour of asylum rights and against the Mugabe regime on Saturday 29th March, the day of the Zimbabwean election. We will meet at Speaker’s Corner in the Market Square, Nottingham, at 2.00pm to show our solidarity and to talk to the people of Nottingham about the situation for Zimbabwean asylum seekers. Please join us! This protest follows ‘A NIGHT FOR ZIMBABWE’ taking place at Nottingham’s Sumac Centre on Friday 28th March.
Continue reading Demonstrate with Zimbabweans in Nottingham 29th March
And again, following the last one (8th Feb) the Sumac Centre is hosting a tasty Friday night ‘Small World Kitchen’ where you can have a meal and a chin wag, courtesy of NNRF Women’s group. It’s on February 22nd and it starts 7.30pm. See earlier posts (below) for full details including directions.
Continue reading Small world kitchen on Friday 22nd February @ Sumac