The Greater Manchester Law Centre supports the emergency solidarity vigil for Yarl’s Wood strikers and all those in immigration detention.
Thursday 8th March, 5-6pm outside Manchester Town Hall, Albert Square.
Please note that GMLC do not offer legal advice or representation on immigration matters. You can find our available services here.
Tomorrow, on International Women’s Day, women and men in Yarls Wood will still be locked up with no time limit. They are on strike. Come out to show solidarity and support for their demands. Indefinite detention must end.
On Wednesday 21st of February a large group of women and men held in Yarl’s Wood Immigration Detention Centre organised a coordinated 3-day hunger strike. The demands have been posted on the Detained Voices website.
They include:
- Amnesty for those who have lived in the UK 10 years and above
- End indefinite detention – Detention periods shouldn’t be longer than 28 days
- End Charter flights – Charter flights are inhumane because there are no prior notifications, or only an oral notification with no warning. They give no time to make arrangements with family.
- No more re-detention – Redention should not be allowed – if you have been detained once, you should not be re-detained if you are complying with the laws they have applied. This is a contradiction, you are being punished for complying with the law; it ruins the whole purpose of expecting compliance.
After receiving no response from the Home Office, the protesters have extended their strike.
“After an initial 3 day hunger strike where the Home Office refused to acknowledge the hunger strike, it is clear that they are not listening to us. On Monday 26/02/18, we will cease to participate in detention, we will not eat, use their facilities or work for them.”
Join the emergency vigil outside Manchester Town Hall to show solidarity with the strikers 5-6pm, Thursday 8th March.
Here are further ways those of us on the outside can support the protests:
- Sign the Petition – calling on the Home Office to grant the demands of Yarl’s Wood strikers.
- Send a letter to you MP outlining what the strikers are calling for. Use this template, use the Write to Them website.
- Tweet Solidarity photos – tweet, retweet and share photos holding signs of support for Yarl’s Wood strikers, and share using hashtag #HUNGERFORFREEDOM
