~~~~ Hunger Strikers Are Freedom Fighters ~~~~
This is an update with news and events connected with the Yarl's Wood hunger strike. After Denise McNeil was released from prison, Aminata Camara and Sheree Wilson remain behind bars. The struggle to free them continues.
In March there are several events connected with International Women's Week. There is also an exciting workshop planned with Denise McNeil and Robert King.
Finally, there is an opportunity to buy a 'Hunger Strikers Are Freedom Fighters' t-shirt with a design by Denise's son, Tre-Anri.
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1. News
2. Women's Day Demonstration at Yarl's Wood
3. Million Women Rise March
4. Girls Behind Bars
5. Resistance Behind Bars: Racism, Imprisonment and Solitary Confinement in the US & UK
A Workshop with Robert King and Denise McNeil
6. Mothers' March
7. 'Hunger Strikers Are Freedom Fighters' T-shirts
1. News
Denise McNeil was finally released from prison in January. Since then, she has been trying to return to her life with her children but the immigration authorities and social services have made this extremely difficult by moving her away from her borough where her family, friends and her child's school is. In February, some of her supporters went with her to demand action on her housing situation. Denise says 'It's been very difficult. I'm struggling and I appreciate the continued support'.
Both Aminata Camara and Sheree Wilson are still in prison, more than a year after the hunger strike. They welcome letters of support at:
Aminata Camara
TG8688
HMP Bronzefield
Woodthorpe Road
Ashford
Middlesex
TW15 3JZ
Sheree Wilson
A0353AQ
HMP Holloway
London
Sheree also thanks people for their continued support and says 'it makes you feel less alone to know there are people supporting you'
2. Women's Day Demonstration at Yarl's Wood
On International Women's Day show solidarity with the migrant women imprisoned at Yarl's Wood.
Saturday, 5th March 2011 from 1pm
At Yarl's Wood Immigration Removal Centre, Twinwoods Road, Clapham, Bedfordshire, MK41 6HL
Directions are here. Please organise your own transport.
The coalition government has skilfully employed the "end" to child detention to avoid talking about the brutal and inhumane detention regime of detention in general. Yet, over the years, countless reports and accounts have documented the plight of women locked up at Yarl's Wood: indefinite detention without charge or judicial oversight, overcrowded cells, mistreatment and abuse by private security guards, lack of privacy, restrictions on visits and phone calls, inadequate medical provision and the lack of facilities to address healthcare issues. And it's getting worse.
In her 2009 inspection report on Yarl's Wood, HM Chief Inspector of Prisons Anne Owers reported that “the focus on improving the environment and activities for children appeared to have led to a lack of attention to the needs of the majority population of women. Provision of activities for them was among the poorest seen in any removal centre. It had been inadequate at the last inspection, and had declined even further. The absence of activity added to the depression and anxiety of women, many of whom were spending lengthy periods at Yarl’s Wood. The average length of stay had increased by 50% since the last inspection, and one in ten women had been detained for more than six months.”
End the detention of migrant women!
Close Yarl's Wood now!
For more information visit:
http://london.noborders.org.uk/node/4673. Million Women Rise March
Saturday 5 March 2011, 12pm
Meet at Hyde Park (Speakers Corner End Nearest Tube: 1 Minute from Marble Arch)
A woman’s right to live free from violence and / or the fear of violence has not been achieved. Women continue to be attacked and violated in many different ways, in our homes, on our streets, on our public transport, at our places of work. The government, the TV and newspapers do very little to address this issue; instead they often blame women for wearing the wrong clothes or being in the wrong place.
If you think this needs to change, then join us on a public demonstration to show those in power that it’s just not good enough! We need to show our mass dissatisfaction; we need to be strong together and in large numbers. Unity is strength; the voices of many are louder together than a single voice.
Together and united we are ending male violence against women and children.
If you want to see change for yourself, your children, your families, your communities then come out and say no to violence against women!
For more information visit:
http://www.millionwomenrise.com/index.html4. Girls Behind Bars
From March 8th at Together Our Space Gallery, 12 Old Street.
An exhibition of artwork created and curated by current and former women prisoners.
For more information visit:
http://www.list.co.uk/event/20149598-girls-behind-bars/5. Resistance Behind Bars: Racism, Imprisonment and Solitary Confinement in the US & UK
A Workshop with Robert King and Denise McNeil
2-4pm Wednesday 9 March 2011
5th Floor, Room 509, Malet Street Building
Birkbeck College, London
Prisons have long been used as institutions to control and repress political dissent. Yet the voices of those who organise behind bars to challenge the injustices and abuses of imprisonment are rarely heard. This workshop provides a unique opportunity to hear from two recently released prisoners – Robert King and Denise McNeil – who will share their experience and analysis of organised resistance behind bars. Specifically exploring questions of contemporary racism and political repression in prison, the workshop will consider how tactics of isolation, such as solitary confinement, communication restrictions and other forms of punishment are used to target and repress resistance both inside and outside prison walls.
Robert King is one of the Angola 3. In 1970, a jury convicted King of a crime he did not commit and sentenced him to 35 years in prison. He became a member of the Black Panther Party while in Angola State Penitentiary, successfully organizing prisoners to improve conditions. In return, prison authorities beat him, starved him, and gave him life without parole after framing him for a second crime. He was thrown into solitary confinement, where he remained in a six by nine foot cell for 29 years as one of the Angola 3. In 2001, the state grudgingly acknowledged his innocence and set him free.
http://www.angola3.org/ Denise McNeil is one of the Yarl’s Wood 3, who participated in a five-week hunger strike in February 2010 by prisoners at Yarl's Wood Immigration detention centre, in protest of indefinite and abusive imprisonment. Accused of being one of the key organisers, she was then held in Holloway Prison for almost a year, until her release on bail in January.
http://www.ncadc.org.uk/campaigns/DeniseMcNeil.html This workshop is being organised as part of Robert King’s UK speaking tour and public screenings of “In The Land of the Free...” a new documentary feature that examines the story of Herman Wallace, Albert Woodfox and Robert King. They are known as the Angola 3 and have spent almost a century between them in solitary confinement in Angola, the Louisiana State Penitentiary. Herman and Albert are still held in solitary confinement after thirty-seven years. The film will be screened at 6pm on Tuesday 8 March 2011 in the Birkbeck Cinema (space is limited so arrive early if you want a place).
http://www.inthelandofthefreefilm.com/ Sponsored by the Birkbeck Institute for Social Research (BISR); Birkbeck School of Law; Centre for Media, Culture and Creative Practice, and the Institute for Criminal Policy Research (ICPR).
The workshop is free and the venue is wheelchair accessible.
Workshop spaces are limited. To reserve a place please email:
s.lamble@bbk.ac.uk6. Mothers' March
Sat 12 March 2011
Assemble 12 noon: Trafalgar Square (north side)
Speak-out 2pm: Room G2, SOAS, London
School of Oriental & African Studies, Thornhaugh St, WC1H OXG
Invest in caring not killing. For everyone’s survival and welfare
End Cuts, Poverty & Discrimination
For more information visit:
www.globalwomenstrike.net 7. 'Hunger Strikers Are Freedom Fighters' T-shirts
We are printing t-shirts designed by Denise McNeil's son Tre-Anri. If you are interested in buying one of these and showing your support for the Yarl's Wood hunger strikers please contact
freedenisenow@gmail.com
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