Immigration centre blockaded again

By No Borders, submitted by Anonymous on Thu, 15/12/2005 - 06:16

For two days running, no Immigration Service snatch squads have been able to leave the Scottish Enforcement Unit at Brand Street to carry out dawn raids. Today, gates at Brand Street were blockaded again from 5am til after dawn, in a repeat action which apparently caught police and security by surprise, allowing a massive chain to be attached to the gates. Report on yesterday's blockade: http://scotland.indymedia.org/newswire/display/2392/index.php These blockades are part of an escalating campaign of protest and direct action to resist migration controls and defend our communities. If you want to get involved in defending our communities and supporting refugees and migrants, there are many ways you can help. Not all of them involve confrontation or chains and padlocks. Some, though not all, involve early starts. To find out more, send an email to No Borders Glasgow at: noborders-glasgow@riseup.net The next mass protest at Brand Street takes place this Saturday (17th December) at 10am, complementing the weekly vigil there. The venue is easily reached by the Underground or any bus via Paisley Road West.

Related

http://www.openborders.org.uk

Comments

Re: Immigration centre blockaded again

By Anonymous

The action this morning had a few amusing episodes. When folk arrived the two police men waiting didn't even bother to get out their nice warm van and as a result completely failed to see the gate getting locked shut with a padlock and chain. Then even though he had already been out to talk to the protestors at the gate it took the securicor guard about an hour to realise another chain and lock had been added. Unusually two police inspectors turned up which we didn't understand until one was overheard asking the other "how was he enjoying his first day as an inspector!" After attempting to cut the chain off the Immigration Centre gates with a big set of bolt-cropppers, with much huffing and puffing, the police abandoned trying to get them open. Only minor damage was sustained by the chain. Cheekily when we decided to leave we offered to unlock the padlock and chain but only if the police officers present all turned their backs and shut their eyes - and they did! So we managed to stop another dawn raid and get the padlock and chain back - and no arrests!

16/12/2005 - 09:58

And again!

By Anonymous

Oh no! The chain and lock that protestors managed to retain after shutting the Immigration Centre yesterday morning mysteriously re-appeared around the gates at about 3am this morning... The immigration centre is rumoured to be closed from today for the holiday period. Tommorrow (Saturday 17th December) will see the "arms around Brand Street" demo called by Glasgow Campaign to Welcome Refugees - 10am to midday. There's another No Borders Network meeting on Wednesday 21st December at the Saorsa Social Centre from 7pm. Several initiatives will be discussed including advancing plans for practical ways of resisting dawn raids in Glasgow. On Thursday join an impromptu carol singing session in George Square, in support of asylum seekers, from 5.00 with re-worded versions of all the old favourites. No Borders!

16/12/2005 - 10:05

Some pics of this action

By Dawn Raid

If at first you don't succeed...

Brand Street gate locked shut

Protests against the inhuman treatment of Scotland's refugee and asylum-seeking population returned to the Home Office building on Brand Street this morning, Thursday the 15th. Again intent on preventing dawn raids, activists tied placards and a banner to the gates and used a heavy steel chain to perform "administrative detention" on the sinister blue vans used to remove "failed" asylum seekers.

No Borders! but Barricades are cool...

Unlike the previous day's action, the police presence was light. The two cops initially present preferred to stay inside their car once they realised the gates had been chained shut. When backup arrived, an attempt was made to cut the chain with 18" bolt croppers provided by Brand Street staff. Despite much huffing and puffing from the lucky officer it was barely dented, ensuring the gates would remain closed until Strathclyde police's cutting crew got themselves out of bed. The dedicated public servants of Festival Court, much earlier birds than the police, started arriving before 7am and were able to enter via the unlocked pedestrian entrance.

Candlelit vigils are ideal for keeping warm

As the sun came up, the police agreed to look the other way while the chain removed itself from the gate and the protest ended at 8am with no action taken against the sleepy but satisfied activists.