to The Asylum and Immigration Bill and the social security changes will make thousands of refugees homeless and penniless.
They will create a set of apartheid-style pass laws. Detention centres at Campsfield and Hasler have conditions worse than prisons. They are filled with refugees who racism have fled from torture and persecution.
We must bring together the most important parts of the black community and the labour movement to build-up a mass opposition.
Although the Labour Party leadership has opposed the Bill they have done nothing to mobilise opposition. Following the success of the demonstration on February 24 we close all detention centres. - hacie VER trade unions. need to build on TUC support and demand that if this Bill is passed a Labour government will repeal the whole lot-and Many public sector workers and employers will be expected to carry out immigration checks on people requiring benefits, seeking access to public services or wanting employment. Employers may NO WAY On February 24, 12,000 people marched through central London in a massive demonstration of opposition to the Asylum and Immigration Bill At the end of the march a rally in Trafalgar Square heard speeches from asylum seekers, politicians and leaders of black organisations and Mohammed Sekkoum, chair of the Algerian Refugee Council collapsed at the end of a speech in which he spoke of the pain and anguish experienced by those like himself who had fled in fear and who now faced persecution in this country.
simply avoid the risk of prosecution by never taking on black people. Local groups opposed to the Bill should talk to trade union branches to see how to resist these checks. Already a number of union branches have taken positions of non-implementation. Trade unionists should ensure that this is debated at coming trade union conferences.
Socialist Outlook 98 • March 2, 1996.