A few days after its announcemen the Kronstadt Hangar, the newly opened space for migrants and activists in Calais, was opened to the public on Saturday 6 February 2010 . It is the aim of the project to create a safe space, where migrants and supporters can meet without harassment by the police and to give the migrants a voice of their own.
On Saturday afternoon police tried to keep any migrants from attending the space by building lines in the street. However, about 150 migrants broke their lines and gathered in the space with tea and coffee.
On the afternoon of 7th February police have raided the Kronstadt Hangar. ( London NoBorders press release 7th February, 17.30) . London NoBorders is calling for an emergency demonstration on Tuesday 9th February.
Statement by Calais Migrant Solidarity on the police raid (7 Feb) | Statement of SoS Sans Papier on police raid (french, 7 Feb) | Statement by Coordination National de Sans Papier (french, 7 Feb)
Other Articles: Updates from 7th February | Press Release 6 Feb by Calais Migrant Solidarity | Photos from 6th February | Recordings from Press Conference in London (4 Feb) | Guardian Comment Is Free article, 04/02/10 | Press Release 28th January | Brighton NoBorders response to the Daily Mail | More News from Calais
London Detainee Solidarity Network have called for a demo this Friday at 2.30pm in support of the Yarls Wood hunger strikers.
The demo will take place at Serco's offices at 18-22 Hand Court (off High Holborn), London, WC1V 6JF. Serco manage Yarls Wood on behalf of UKBA.
Please bring banners and instruments.
For more info about the hunger strike see here
Since the 5th of February 2010, we the residents at Yarl's Wood Immigration Removal Centre are on hunger strike which involves over 84 + women, who are protesting against the period of time spent in detention and the treatment that they receive while being detained.
The strike was sparked to protest and demand that the frustration and humiliation of all foreign nationals ends now.
NON A L’EVACUATION POLICIERE DU HANGAR ASSOCIATIF
*LOUE POUR LES REFUGIES !*
*Sarkozy/Hortefeux/Besson n’ont jamais dormi sous des températures d’hiver, ça se voit, ils viennenet de faire intervenir la police contre un local associatif loué pour mettre à l’abri les réfugiés Afghans, Somaliens, Irakiens, etc, de cet hiver particulièrement dur.*
*Après le « nettoyage de la jungle» de Calais suite au démantèlement de Sangatte, voilà la charge policière pour déloger, en piétinant sans honte la trêve hivernale, les centaines de réfugiés fuyant les guerres dans lesquelles sont engagées les soldats français.*
Calais Migrant Solidarity
Press Release: Immediate Release
Tel: +447531647480
Email: calaisolidarity@gmail.com
MIGRANT CENTRE EVICTED BY FRENCH RIOT POLICE IN CALAIS
Under instruction from the town authorities, the elite French CRS riot police today forcibly evicted the new Calais migrant centre - called Kronstadt Hangar - by smashing down the front doors, less than 24 hours after migrants and No Borders activists pushed through police lines to occupy the building, which has been legally rented by No Borders [1] and SoS Soutien aux Sans Papiers. [2]
Marie Chautemps said: "The Kronstadt Hangar was opened as a
direct intervention into a winter of repression that the migrants in
Calais have faced since their 'jungle' communities were destroyed in a cruel PR stunt, back in September."
SoS Soutien aux Sans Papiers "cette nouvelle jungle " de
Besson : du "tout permis" et violences d'Etat
Expulsion , et violences intolérables dans le hangar Cronsdat de CALAIS. BESSON s'agite à nouveau . Il détourne ainsi le vrai débat de fond, pourquoi ces exils forcés? Pourquoi cette violence envers des exilés obligés de fuir guerres, violences et misère.
Les conflits de l'occident obligent ces véritables " dégâts collatéraux" à rejoindre nos pays. Ce n'est pas par la violence et l'expulsion du hangar , ni en rasant leur campement , que Besson posera les vraies questions , mais il devra en répondre. Son discours mensonger et populiste ne trompe personne.
Following the repression of recent days in Calais after the opening of the Kronstadt Hangar, London No Borders is organising an infonight this Thursday (11th Feb) at 7pm to discuss what is going on there and how we support the struggle.
At the Library House, 52 Knatchbull Road (entrance on Burton Road, behind Minet Library), Camberwell, SE5 9QY.
For more info about the Kronstadt Hangar see here.
