All blog posts written in 2017
In November SOAS Detainee Support joined NELMA, HASL, Migrants Rights Network and other solidarity groups outside the Royal Courts of Justice in support of a judicial review to challenge the Home Office policy of targeting homeless EEA nationals for immigration control. The legal challenge was taken by the Public Interest Read more…
The recent testimonies describing abuse within Movement for Justice came as a shock to many organising groups. SDS, like many others, has had to consider at length how best to respond and proceed when events like this unfold. In light of the organisation’s response to allegations of abuse, and events Read more…
Tuesday 21st November, 9am-12pmOutside the Royal Courts of Justice, Strand, WC2A 2LL In May 2016 the Home Office introduced new guidance stating that rough sleeping was an ‘abuse’ (later qualified as ‘misuse’) of EU citizens’ right of freedom of movement. The guidance means rough sleepers can now be ‘administratively removed’ (effectively, deported) Read more…
On 19th October a former member of Movement for Justice released a testimony disclosing harassment, abuse and control committed by the organisation. This was followed by further testimonies of a similar nature from other people who have been involved in MfJ. These were disclosed on the Facebook page and on Read more…
In just over two weeks, the SDS crowdfunder has raised £5,540 – what is there to say other than a huge THANK YOU! This amount takes us to almost 80% of our £7,000 target, and has come from 143 individual donations. Lots has happened in the past two weeks: We were devastated Read more…
**CW: SUICIDE, DEATH, STATE VIOLENCE** 28-year old Polish immigration detainee dies after serious suicide attempt at Harmondsworth Immigration Removal Centre this week. In the same week that BBC’s Panorama revealed the systemic violence and abuse of immigration removal centres in the UK, a suicide has taken place in Harmondsworth Immigration Read more…
I just watched a harrowing episode of BBC Panorama that showed undercover footage from inside Brook House immigration detention centre, filmed by whistle-blower and reporter Callum Tulley. For those of us who have worked with people in detention even for a little while, the stories were both familiar and shocking. The documentary did Read more…
DSEI – the world’s largest arms fair – is coming to London. From 4th-11th September 2017, we’re going to try to stop it. Read more about some of the ‘defence’ companies who will be at DSEI and how their wares are used to kill people crossing borders in this article by the Shoal Read more…
We’ll be joining Movement for Justice and groups from all over the country at Yarl’s Wood immigration detention centre to call for an end to immigration detention and racist state violence. Saturday 13th May 2016 Full event description on the MfJ event here: https://www.facebook.com/events/1397760473581688/ GET YOUR COACH TICKET from MfJ so Read more…
Two SDS members will be speaking on a panel organised by War on Want. Combatting Arbitrary Detention from the UK to PalestineMonday 8th May 2017, 7-9pmSALT lecture theatre, Senate House, SOAS, WC1E 7HU Join War on Want for an evening of education, discussion and movement building with organisations working to combat the Read more…