london diary

March 2018

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Shut Down Yarl's Wood

Yarl's Wood, Bedford, UK. Sat 24 Mar 2018


 Movement for Justice protesters on the march to Yarl's Wood

 the march turns off down a public footpath

 

 and makes its way alongside the first field

 to a short stretch of public byway

 and then beside a second long field

 before crossing a ditch and skirting around a large puddle

 

 

 

 

 to reach the gate into the field beside the detention centre

 The fence is 20ft tall, solid for 10ft then 10 ft of mesh

 'No Human Is Illegal' and an Antifascist Action flag

 

 Women greet the protesters, waving out from the windows of the prison. Most of the women inside cannot get to

 the windows as on the protest days they are locked in their own block, but they can still hear and are heartened

 to know they are not forgotten. Some have clearly been preparing for the protest, writing messages. The windows

 can only be opened a short distance - just enough to get an arm out. The messages call for help and for freedom

 and some tell us they have been inside for 6 months. Detention was initially ment to be for a maximum of 28 days

 but now it is an indefinite sentence. One of those protesting outside today was held for two days less than THREE YEARS

 before her release. Once released many are brought back in again without notice - they go for a routine interview

 and are taken directly here. Someone holds up a white bra from a first floor window. The protesters can stand on a slight

 rise facing the fence and can see the windows on the first and second floor through the mesh - and wave back

 'Freedom, Freedom' ' No Law Here', 'Shut It Down'...

 As well as women there are some families held together on the lower floors of this block

 Some windows like this cannot be seen through

 People kick and bang the fence to make a din between chating and speeches

 

 

 Others stand on the hill with posters and placards

 MfJ have brought a ladder so that those inside can see the speakers as well as hear them

 and MfJ's Antonia Bright introduces the first speaker

 Mabel Gawanas was inside here for almost 3 years and knows many of the women - and starts by speaking to them

 before turning to the crowd outside

more pictures

 


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