On Wednesday 10th October an immigration snatch squad left North Shields and came to the West End of Newcastle to raid some houses. Local activists from SnatchWatch and the TCAR Pledge of Resistance organised a protest against the raids. Four local activists were arrested for obstruction of the police.
Background
The immigration police want to terrorize asylum seekers, raiding their houses early in the morning. Many asylum seekers have difficulty sleeping, never knowing whether their turn will be next. Sometimes families are handed their letters of 'failure' seconds before being ordered to pack their belongings and leave their house. This is the context for the Pledge of Resistance, an idea developed by activists from Fight Racism! Fight Imperialism! and organised through TCAR (Tyneside Community Action for Refugees). People who sign up to the Pledge of Resistance make a promise that if an immigration raid happens in their local area, they will come out in the street, and take whatever action they see fit to defend the family. In TCAR we say, 'You will not snatch us silently'. We will expose Labour Party respectability as a sham and we will not allow members of TCAR to be whisked away silently into the night without resistance.
Another group, SnatchWatch, has been monitoring North Shields to see when the Immigration Police are carrying out dawn raids. SnatchWatch and TCAR are working together and the events of Wednesday 10th October are a good example of strength in solidarity. SnatchWatch is facing increasing police harassment for their activities. They have been accused of harassing police and immigration officers. One person has been formally cautioned for harassing the police. He was on his own. They were not. The irony! Police are using anti-harassment legislation, originally brought in to protect people from stalkers, to harass political activists.
Immigration raids on 10th October
The immigration vans left North Shields at around 6.50am. They arrived in Brighton Grove, Fenham at 7am. The Pledge of Resistance group in TCAR were informed straight away by SnatchWatch and set about mobilising people in the local area who had signed the pledge. Within ten minutes the first people arrived at the scene on foot and on bike. Protesters used a banner and a megaphone to explain to neighbours and passing traffic what was happening. Police guarding the immigration officers filmed protesters, perhaps in order to intimidate them. Protesters simply responded by filming the police. Within ten minutes the immigration police left empty-handed.
Shortly after the first raid, members of TCAR received another phone call to say that the immigration police had been spotted at Callerton Place nearby. It seems they had a list of people to intimidate and weren't content to stop with the one household. TCAR and SnatchWatch supporters were able to mobilise to the new house within minutes and started protesting afresh. By this time a local film maker had arrived with professional filming equipment. Police tried their best to exert their 'authority', informing the protesters that they couldn't go on the road in case they got hurt. Anyone who has ever been to Callerton Place at 7.30am will understand how ridiculous this is, the street was empty with no traffic. Asylum seekers inside the raided house raised their fists in solidarity and other neighbours with children showed their support from onlooking windows. Only one local person complained of the noise and this was jumped on by police to demand an end to all megaphone use. Protesters started to argue about their rights but at that point it became clear that the immigration raid was over. Yet again the immigration cops left empty handed.
As the immigration van was leaving, more local activists arrived and seeing the van, reasonably assumed that it was carrying refugees to be deported. One activist put his bike in front of the van and then attempted to lock himself to the steering wheel. The police panicked and responded by aggressively arresting the activist and also 3 others that had arrived shortly after. 3 were charged with obstruction of the police. The activist who attempted to stop the van was initially charged with affray but this was later changed to obstruction and public (dis)order. This activist was held the for more than 24 hours in a local police station. Activists reported mistreatment by the police. (More information will be given when we receive it)
The State is trying to criminalise resistance. As with the issue of street collections, the defenders of the ruling class will use any law they can to try and shut down resistance. They will make up lies and try to discredit protesters. But our activity is legitimate. We will not let them enter our communities and snatch people silently. We pledge resistance! Together we are stronger! Together we can win!
To sign the Pledge of Resistance please call 07858346276 or email tynesidecarn@yahoo.co.uk with your phone number and the name of your local area.
