Launch of Manchester Anti Deportation Coalition
Article published: Wednesday, September 8th 2010
This weekend will see the launch of Manchester Anti Deportation Coalition, a wide-encompassing network which aims to bring together asylum seekers, activists, legal workers and members of the community to fight back against the assault of deportations occurring across Greater Manchester.
The inaugural meeting will take place at the Friends’ Meeting House at 2pm this Saturday. It will include different speakers – ranging from those with personal experience in the system, legal case workers, journalists, campaigners and individuals currently facing deportation – in order to begin building a solid network of individuals and groups practically opposed to deportations.
The main purpose of the network is to provide a space for individuals with ongoing struggles against deportation to facilitate them – as well as anti-border control activists and campaigning groups – to link up and build support momentum for their campaigns. Part of this factors in the importance of sharing resources, skills and experience.
John Sandiford, one of the organisers, spoke to MULE: “”We’re looking for strength and solidarity in numbers, by bringing together all the individuals and groups working tirelessly in the fight against an unjust and immoral system”.
Beyond this the coalition hopes to build a campaigns opposing recent developments in the area. One of those to be targeted is the “fast-track” deportation pilot scheme, on trial in the North West, which gives families denied asylum two weeks to leave the country voluntarily before being forcibly removed.
Another which they aim to bring to public attention and fight against is the significant cuts to legal aid already underway. This has already caused the closure of prominent asylum legal support group Refugee and Migrant Justice (RMJ) and has placed the future of others in jeopardy. The ramifications of the changes are not however just limited to those seeking asylum, but also threaten access to justice for many.
The coalition envisions challenging not only the racist undertones of much discourse on immigration, but also the inherent injustices of migration controls.
Organisers are inviting people from all backgrounds and walks of life to participate and bring their enthusiasm.
Having already had positive feedback to publicity of the launch, John Sandiford is excited about the coalition’s potential: “By uniting rather than dividing and promoting love for humanity we are hopeful that a new, effective and exciting chapter is just about to begin”.
The meeting will take place at the Friends’ Meeting House, behind St Peters Square, at 2pm Saturday 11 September. This article originally said another time which was incorrect – please make sure to change your diaries.
For more information, or if you would like to contribute at the meeting or to the coalition in other ways, you can contact by email: madcoalition [at] gmail.com
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