Traveller families living on Dale Farm in Essex are facing what they describe as an outpouring of racism and prejudice as they await a Court of Appeal decision on their threatened eviction. The site at Dale Farm houses some ninety families, all of whom will be evicted if Basildon District Council is successful: it is
Geography: South-East England
Two families unite for justice
Last week two grieving families gathered outside Brixton police station to extend solidarity to one another. A weekly vigil outside Brixton police station for Sean Rigg, who died in police custody on 21 August 2008 after being arrested by local police (read an IRR News story: Two suspicious Black deaths in south London), was also
Detention centre confiscates torture survivor’s guide on detainee rights
A Kenyan asylum seeker held at Yarl’s Wood immigration removal centre had a vital self-help guide confiscated by staff days before a crucial deadline for her case. Mercy Wanjiku [1], who fled from torture in Kenya, had three days in which to prepare and submit papers for an oral judicial review and, without a lawyer,
Call for end to deportations to Iraq
A protest calling for an end to the continuing policy of deportations to Iraq was held outside the Home Office on 11 September 2008. Organised by the International Federation of Iraqi Refugees and the Coalition to Stop Deportations to Iraq, it not only called for an end to the policy of deportations to Iraq, but
Man dies following raid by police and immigration
An investigation is underway as to how a man died following a raid by police and immigration officers at his home in Woodford Green, Essex. 36-year-old Frank Odame was found with head injuries below a block of flats after ‘police officers and UK immigration officials attended a residential address in Lambourne Court, Woodford Green’. A
Two suspicious Black deaths in south London
The family of a Black man who died after being arrested by Brixton police is appealing for witnesses to come forward. On 21 August, 40-year-old Sean Rigg was arrested, according to the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) which investigates deaths in custody, on suspicion of public order offences and alleged assault on a police officer
Gone too far!
An award-winning play by first-time playwright Bola Agbaje, Gone too far!, explores Black identity in a clever, funny and very entertaining way. ‘Nigeria, England, America, Jamaica; are you proud of where you’re from? Dark-skinned, light-skinned, Afro, weaves, who are your true brothers and sisters? When two brothers from different continents go down the street to
Pupils speak in support of Kamal Begi
Students at an east London school are hoping against hope that their campaign will stop the deportation of their Afghani classmate, Kamal Begi. Kamal Begi, a Brampton Manor student, and his uncle have lost all their appeals for asylum and are under threat of deportation, despite having lived in the UK for over six years.
Vigils in memory of Habib Ullah
Last week, members of the local community and family and friends of Habib Ullah, who died after being arrested by police on 3 July, gathered in High Wycombe town centre to hold two vigils in his memory. The vigils were held to provide the local community with more information and to raise awareness about Habib’s
London unions sever all links with Rise Festival
A number of London unions have severed all links with the London Mayor’s Rise Festival. The Rise Festival, established following the murder of Stephen Lawrence and organised by the TUC, was known as the Respect anti-racist festival. The idea was taken up by Ken Livingstone, who changed the name from Respect to Rise and held