Stateless in Lesvos: screening and Q&A with film maker

Awareness and fundraising film screening and Q&A with film maker Guy Smallman who is just back from Lesvos, and visiting Scotland for 2 days only.

Donations will be going to support refugees in Greece.

Edinburgh:
Tuesday, December 15 at 5:30pm
Hunter Lecture Theatre, Edinburgh College of Art, 74 Lauriston Place, EG3 9DF

Glasgow:
Wednesday, December 16 at 7:00pm
Boyd Orr room 513 (Lecture Theatre D), University of Glasgow

Eye witness report & film from the Frontline of the refugee crisis in Lesvos.

We are very lucky to be able to screen this short (25min) documentary shot this November on one of the islands considered the front-line of the refugee crisis. Focusing on the solidarity of ordinary people in the face of government-led racism and incompetence, this film will show how the working class in Greece are defying the state and showing their solidarity with refugees.

The director, Guy Smallman of Reelnews, will be travelling to Scotland fresh from the press film screening and will be on hand to give a Q&A on his first-hand experiences. You can check out his travel-blog for the project here: http://reelnews.co.uk/the-lesvos-blog/

This event is free to attend. There will be an opportunity to give a financial donations to send to Lesvos, but it is just as important to come along and raise awareness.

Glasgow event co-hosted by Glasgow AFed and Glasgow Uni Anarchist Soc.
https://www.facebook.com/events/194379107567573/

Edinburgh co-hosted by counterinfo lab and the Autonomous Centre of Edinburgh
https://www.facebook.com/events/106327519737862/

Solidarity Against the Home Office

I wanted to give a quick personal account of yesterday’s Stand Up For Our Rights protest at the Home Office buildings on Brand Street, as while on the face of it there was nothing unique, there where some points that made it stand out from other similar actions that have taken place recently.

First, and most importantly, this protest was primarily organised by woman refugees and asylum seekers themselves. Many of them have been waiting for a decision on their Home Office cases for over six months and now find themselves trapped in a limbo where they want to be productive but are denied basic rights; many are forced to live in destitution.  They wanted other groups to come out and show support side-by-side with them.

Despite the grim reasons for the event, the protest itself though was an upbeat affair. Drums (some from old water cooler containers), rattles, tambourines, and even a cowbell and an old cone were used as instruments. Although the pile sat lonely for a few minutes while people timidly looked on, out of almost nowhere a rhythm  started up and in moments every price of instrumentation was in use (along with claps and voices held high). People were smiling and chanting with spirits raised, rather than standing looking bleak and hopeless. When a round of music and chanting came to an end it would be one of the people effected by this struggle that would speak up, explaining the situation they where in and putting forward the modest needs they had. No specially selected talking heads at this demo, just words coming straight from the heart.

While this protest isn’t going to solve any of the issues raised directly what it did do was provide an important boost to morale. People from different parts of Glasgow where able to show solidarity in the way it was requested, as opposed to the protests where a group or organisation decides how best to help those who are struggling. This protest provided a place to listen and understand, and build bridges for future dialogue, while also bamming up the Home Office a wee bit, which is no bad thing!

Isa Muazu Back in Britain!

I’ll admit I’m amazed to be writing this at all; Isa Muazu has been returned to Britain!

Full story in the Guardian. The fight is back on!

*****

UPDATE: Isa has been speaking to Unity volunteers all day since he called them this morning to tell us the news. He’s in excellent mood considering the turmoil and wishes to say a huge thank you to everyone who has helped in his campaign so far.

Please if you haven’t done so already send Isa a postcard or letter of support.
Isa Muauzu c/o Harmonsdsworth IRC, Colnbrook By Pass, Harmondsworth, West Drayton, Middlesex UB7 0HB

Inhumane Government and Charter Firm Deport Isa

It is with regret that I’m posting to say that Isa Muazu has been deported by the Home Office in spite of the critical condition of his heath. This post on Scriptonite Daily covers the details.

I’d like to add that the fight to prevent his deportation was always going to be an uphill struggle. The Home Office would not release Isa, but at the same time would have done almost anything to prevent a hunger striker dying in detention. Virgin Atlantic may have been open to refusing passage to avoid the  bad publicity generated from a death in flight but for the relatively unknown Air Charter Scotland the chances of any of the bad publicity hitting them and not just stopping with the Home Office was slim, while the incentive of £50,000 for this flight and a good record for future charters from the government was too much to stop them from becoming murderers.

This is the violence of capitalism and the state.

The lack of humanity shown towards Isa from those involved in his deportation should spur us on in our opposition to a culture that says a person can be illegal.

No borders! No nations! No deportations!

Support Isa! Stop Detention!

The Unity Centre have posted this updated info on how to support Isa. They are asking people to redouble their efforts over the next day.  We’ll repost info here as we are able.

Solidarity with Isa Muazu helps buy some more time!

Via Unity following on from yesterday’s post:

ISA’s FLIGHT TONIGHT CANCELLED: This has been confirmed. Isa was given fresh removal directions for Friday 29 November on a specially chartered private flight EDC684 to Abjua at 8am. This flight is being organised by a charter company based in East Kilbride, Scotland. Their details are:

Air Charter Scotland Ltd, 7 Colvilles Place, Kelvin Industrial Estate, East Kilbride, Glasgow, G75 0PZ.
Sales Tel: 01355 590 300
Sales E-mail: info@aircharterscotland.com
Operations Tel: 01357 578 161
Operations E-mail: operations@aircharterscotland.com
Fax: 01355 590 303.

An urgent action appeal will be going out tonight. UNITY!

=====

The unprecedented pressure that everyone has been able to bring to bare so far has been instrumental in getting this delay. The Home Office are wanting to transport Isa with a medical team, in effect admitting that he is not fit to travel and that the government just want rid of him so he doesn’t die in detainment. We need to keep up the pressure over the next couple of days. Here are some photos from today’s solidarity demonstration:

Manchester No Borders bringing the joy

Clue: if MigrationWatch, the Optimum Population Trust and the BNP praise your work as Immigration Minister: UR doin it rong.

Fuckwitted racist-or-cowardly Immigration minister Phil Woolas got pied when speaking at Manchester University yesterday. First in the queue, Manchester No Borders, who called him out on his economic and ecological nationalism.

“You can’t do that, he’s a Government minister”

Manchester video

Manchester No Borders have produced this video of the Freedom of Movement bloc some of us participated in in Manchester last month.

Classy piece of work, especially the way they speed up and slow down the marching.

Please Help

With the freedom of movement block last Saturday

Please help Yosola and Haadiyeh Ogunleye