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Round-Up Oct-Nov 2005
In Newcastle, comrades are increasing their focus on anti-racist work around asylum rights. Refugees come from countries where the British ruling class is directly profiting from grossly exploitative systems of government or wars. Supporters of FRFI have been making the links clear between imperialism abroad and the racist treatment of immigrants in Britain. Comrades have initiated work with other groups, for example by supporting the SWP/Respect-organised Defend Courage Campaign against the deportation of a Nigerian student activist. Following their participation in a regional meeting of the National Coalition of Anti-Deportation Camapigns, supporters have been working to form a local network of groups and individuals to defend asylum seekers. The first public meeting of this network on 21 November was a major success, with around 40 people attending from a wide range of backgrounds. The clear message from the asylum seekers participating was a demand for “solidarity not sympathy”. Within this joint work comrades have consistently argued against all attempts to censor FRFI and other literature, and have fought for the freedom of expression of all those active in the network.
On Saturday 12 November FRFI supporters from Newcastle and Durham contributed to the international day of action against the apartheid wall by targetting high street supporters of Israel in Newcastle, with lively mobile street theatre. Together with members of the Palestine Solidarity Campaign, activists visited M&S and stockists of Caterpillar goods with a large fabric 'anti-apartheid wall'. Around a dozen people protested inside and outside the stores, and set up mock Israeli checkpoints at the entrances, in an attempt to communicate to people something of the daily experience of Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza. Since then there have been lively pickets of M&S stores in Newcastle and Durham, which have continued in the face of consistent police harassment and even a physical attack and threats towards members of the picket in Durham by a christian zionist.
Regular stalls have also been held in Newcastle and Durham against the occupation of Iraq and in defence of Cuban socialism, together with public meetings on a range of issues.