Dignity not Detention 3 Day March to Lindholme Detention Centre
A delegation of three members of Tyneside Community Action for Refugees (TCAR) joined a three day march to Lindholme detention centre near Doncaster. The delegation was agreed t the last General Meeting as a gesture of solidarity for the march organised by the South Yorkshire Migrant and Asylum Action Group (SYMAAG). The banner of the march was 'Dignity not Detention' and its main demands were against immigration detention and for the right to work for all immigrants.
Over 100 people joined the march between Sheffield and Lindholme over the course of the 3 days. Many more supported it by providing meals, accommodation and solidarity along the route.
TCAR's solidarity was much welcomed by the protesters from Sheffield, Rotherham and Doncaster. There was a lot of support for TCAR's idea of a big demonstration in Newcastle in January. Many of TCAR's slogans were enthusiastically taken up by the demonstration, especially TCAR's core principle that 'Together we are Stronger!'. And new slogans and songs were also developed on the march. In fact, the protesters rotated between chanting slogans and singing freedom songs almost non-stop for the entire 30 mile journey! For supporters of Fight Racism! Fight Imperialism! who had learnt about our organisation's involvement in the anti-apartheid movement of the 80s and seen videos of the non-stop picket of the South African embassy in London, it was inspiring to learn the same freedom songs from people who were involved in the struggles in Africa. Unfortunately racism and imperialism have not disappeared, but neither has resistance!
When we arrived at Lindholme Immigration detention centre we were joined by North West Asylum Seeker Defence Group, Nottingham No Borders and other groups and individuals. The detainees of Lindholme could hear the chanting and shouted freedom slogans from the windows of the detention centre in response. Protesters moved back from the fence in order to see the detainees but at this point families of the prison officers came out from their houses and started hurling racist abuse at protesters and demanding that they left the grass as it was their 'private property'. It clearly demonstrated the role of the state in protecting racists since the police did nothing to stop them shouting racist abuse, even during a short commemoration service to remember detainees who have died in detention.
There were speakers from Zimbabwe, Sudan, Cameroon and Sheffield. A TCAR speaker from Fight Racism! Fight Imperialism! spoke about the importance of understanding the reasons that refugees are coming to Britain to seek asylum. She pointed to the case of the DRCongo, where British companies are profiting from the war by looting minerals, and Iraq, which is occupied by British troops.
Asylum seekers on the march, many of them from countries oppressed and exploited by imperialism were very interested in the political work of Fight Racism! Fight Imperialism! and the Revolutionary Communist Group. There was much interest in the Cuban speaking tour next February. Cuba is well respected by those fighting for freedom in Africa due to the important role it played in DRCongo in the 60s and Angola in the 70s and other countries. Not only has Cuba given military support to liberation struggles in Africa but it has also provided solidarity in the fieldds of health and education. Cuba trains hundreds of doctors for free from countries where there are not the resources to train them. The qualified doctors are then expected to go back to their home countries and work as doctors in the public sector for a least a minimum period. This is a stark contrast to imperialist Britain which has contributed to a brain drain in oppressed countries by luring away doctors and nurses to come and work in Britain.
