[Netnews-action] 4 June: Invitation to NCADC Annual General Meeting

[michael]

-------- Forwarded Message --------
From: Emma Ginn <ncadc-north-west at ncadc.org.uk>
To: ncadc-north-west at ncadc.org.uk
Subject: Invitation to NCADC Annual General Meeting tomorrow
Date: Fri, 3 Jun 2005 11:38:09 +0100
Invitation to NCADC Annual General Meeting tomorrow
Saturday 4th June 2005 - 12.00 to 5pm
Cross Street Chapel, Cross Street, Manchester M2 1NL (entrance corner of
Cross Street and Chapel Walk)
Map :
http://www.manchester.gov.uk/visitorcentre/images/maps/city_full.htm

Last year at least two men killed themselves in UK detention centres.
An inquiry into many allegations by an undercover journalist of racism
and abuse by Group4 (now called Global Solutions Limited), who run most
of the UK's detention centres and Dallas Court "Enforcement Unit" in
Salford, Manchester, concluded that most of things the journalist said
happened did happen.  Yet just 30 days after the Inquiry was published,
GSL were awarded a huge new contract to run Bicester Accommodation
Centre for asylum seekers.  GSL employees were even caught on film by
the BBC dishing out their abuse and boasting about how they had
assaulted detainees.  But no action has been taken against GSL.

A few weeks ago Michael Howard, leader of the Conservative party, told
the public to "vigilant" of immigration.

No wonder many get the feeling it's OK to do anything they like to
asylum seekers.

Maybe this year's wave of anti-asylum rhetoric is no different from
previous waves over the last 100 years since the first form of
immigration controls were introduced in the UK - the 1905 Aliens Act.

No one can fight against it alone.  NCADC has been supporting
individuals, families and communities to campaign against deportation
for 10 years - last year there were more individual anti-deportation
campaigns, more local grass-roots coalitions, and more pockets of
resistance against inhumane immigration policies than ever before.

"It meant so much to know that total strangers were more than willing to
drop everything and head out to Manchester Airport" Š. an "airport
action" worked and the detainee was later released.

The Congolese Otshudi brothers' case was taken all the way through to
the High Court who refused their claim, but campaigning overturned
string of seemingly the bizarre decisions against them. (info :
http://www.ncadc.org.uk/archives/filed%20newszines/newszine57/cawork.htm

A community coalition called Women Asylum Seekers Together (WAST) has
been established by a group of asylum seeking women to ensure everyone
gets their own anti-deportation campaign started.  During the three
amazing marches headed by asylum seekers in Manchester on April 2nd for
the European Day of Action, the children of WAST had their own banner
"Don't Deport Me - I Was Born Here !".

Anti-deportation campaign supporter, 31st March 2005 : "I am sure there
are many, like XXX, who owe their freedom to the campaigning work of
NCADC" Š but NCADC's campaigning is all about you, so please try and
come to our AGM.

Saturday 4th June Annual General Meeting

*** Break-out sessions for those facing deportation to explain their
situations


*** Session on Setting Up New Anti-Deportation Campaigns, with
experienced local campaigners


*** Planning actions / activities - The Next 12 months - Open Discussion

*** Film Show - 2nd April 2005 European Day of Action and other
demonstrations

*** (Re)election of NCADC Management Committee

Lunch will be provided for all participants and there will be a crèche.

Travel costs for those facing deportation is reimbursed by NCADC for
cheapest advanced bookings on National Express coaches. Please note that
NCADC cannot reimburse for more expensive forms of travel - e.g. more
expensive tickets bought on the day of travel.

Hope to see you there !

North West England - Emma Ginn (0161 740 6504) -
ncadc-north-west at ncadc.org.uk