| Actions
to Scrap Section 55 - January 8/9th 2004
Those of us with status can choose to go without food
for up to 48 hours, *7,500 plus asylum seekers may have no choice
On January 8th 2003 Section 55 of the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum
Act 2002 came into force. Within a week hundreds of Asylum Seekers were
made destitute, many of them having to sleep rough before finding help.
Since that infamous date, many groups have sprung up around the UK and
Scotland pledged to Scrapping Section 55 and to providing what support
they can for those made destitute by politically motivated legislation
until such time as it is scrapped.
Around the UK from the 8th January 2004 there will be actions to highlight
the hardship of victims of Section 55.
Oxford: Asylum Welcome are holding a sponsored
fast on January 9-10, with a stall in the Cornmarket on the 10th, from
which we will attempt to make make clear the horrors of Sec. 55 and the
larger asylum question. Happy New Year to you all, Candis Roberts for
Asylum Welcome.
Further details: <candis@clara.co.uk>
Sheffield: Sponsored Fast 8 January to 10 January 2004
Fasters are invited to abstain from taking food (but are encouraged to
take fluids) for any period for up to 48 hours starting from 6pm on Thursday
8 January.
Further details: assistsheffield@yahoo.co.uk
Leeds: 'Campaign against destitution in our communities'
A group of concerned organisations and individuals in Leeds are planning
to mark and publicly object to a year of enforced destitution for asylum
seekers by participating in a sponsored fast for 48 hours. Starts Friday
9th January 2004
Further details: Merlo@lassn.org.uk
Manchester: Rally on Thursday, 8 January
2004, 12.00 noon onwards in Albert Square, Manchester
Further details: ncadc-north-west@ncadc.org.uk
Liverpool:
Stand Up for Asylum Seekers
At the Victoria Monument outside the Crown Court (meet 11.50 am) as well
as people doing it in workplaces.
Further details: <mailto:lcad@merseymail.com>Dee Coombs lcad@merseymail.com
Nottingham: Nottingham Refugee Campaign Group
is organising a sponsored fast to raise awareness of, and financial support
for, destitute asylum seekers. Our fast will be for 2 days (or whatever
people feel they can manage), starting on Friday January 9th. (The
8th is the first anniversary of these draconian new regulations.)
Further details: refugees@tiscali.co.uk
*Number
of asylum seekers refused under Section 55 January to September 2003,
Hansard Monday 5th January 2004.
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