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#HungerForFreedom

Opelo next to a mural with outsretched wings

Support Opelo and Florence Kgari, detained in Yarl’s Wood

Opelo Kgari and her mother have lived in the UK for 14 years – since Opelo was just 13. For almost three months they’ve been detained at Yarl’s Wood detention centre, uncertain of their future. Opelo was detained in January 2018 following a routine ‘signing’ appointment at her local immigration office in Stoke-on-Trent. This is something that tens of thousands of people have to do every week, or month, while they wait for a decision… Read more »

people arm in arm at Yarl's Wood

Hunger For Freedom: surround Yarl’s Wood on March 24

A collective of grassroots groups is mobilising for a rally outside Yarl’s Wood immigration detention centre on Saturday 24 March, in solidarity with the #HungerForFreedom strikers inside. Hundreds of people will surround the notorious detention centre in Bedfordshire, calling for the place to be closed, the people to be released and for an end to immigration detention. On February 21st, 120 people detained at Yarl’s Wood started a hunger strike. The strikers have announced an… Read more »

women in the snow at the London solidarity action

Hunger For Freedom day of action: one month on

This Wednesday 21st March will mark one full month since people inside Yarl’s Wood began their strike actions. On 21st February, 120 people detained at Yarl’s Wood detention centre in Bedfordshire started a hunger strike. Since then, strikers have been refusing food, refusing to work, and refusing to use services inside detention, with a list of demands against the detention system. Read the demands here. There have been actions in support of the strikers in… Read more »

hands holding sign saying solidarity with the hunger strikers

4 actions you can take to support the Yarl’s Wood strikers

On Wednesday 21st of February a large group of women and men held in Yarl’s Wood Immigration Detention Centre organised a coordinated 3-day hunger strike. The demands have been posted on the Detained Voices website. This post first appeared on the SOAS Detainee Support website. The demands of the strikers include: Amnesty for those who have lived in the UK 10 years and above End indefinite detention – Detention periods shouldn’t be longer than 28… Read more »

Yarl’s Wood women protest

Around 100 women in Yarl’s Wood immigration detention centre are protesting at their continuing incarceration. Their demands are listed below. The protest coincided with a visit to the notorious centre by Shadow Home Secretary Diane Abboot MP. You can read a report of that visit at the Guardian here. For up to date info and news, follow @detainedvoices on Twitter and check the website. 1. Shorter bail request periods Legally it should 3-5 days, however… Read more »