Haringey in revolt against racist Roche
A demonstration has been called by the North London Committee to Defend Asylum Seekers to march to Home Office Minister and Hornsey and Wood Green MP Barbara Roche's surgery in Haringey on 7 October 2000.
The campaign is getting a lot of enthusiastic response in the area including amongst the Kurdish community.
Haringey has a proud tradition of welcoming asylum seekers. Over many years, refugees have made an immeasurable contribution to the borough.
But in her capacity as an MP and Home Office minister, Barbara Roche has trampled on this tradition.
She has kept quiet while the Evening Standard , the Sun , the Daily Mail and other newspapers have spread appalling racist lies about refugees;
She has championed the voucher scheme, which condemns refugees to poverty and makes them targets for discrimination and violence;
She has backed the government's policy of "dispersal", condemned by the Audit Commission for dumping asylum seekers in distant towns with no support;
She treats refugees like criminals and throws them into "detention centres";
She has pledged to deport over 40,000 refugees in the next two years.
She has tried to introduce a £10,000 "bond" for Asian visitors to this country.
She has even hired a private plane to forcefully deport a local Ghanaian refugee and part her from her sick son.
In calling for the march, the Committee says:
"We invite all anti-racist organisations, refugee groups, trade unions, human rights campaigns, religious and community groups and individuals to back this demonstration and mobilise to make it a massive show of disgust at the government's policies."
For more information or to make a donation call Emine Ibrahim on 0777 334 4579
North London committee to defend asylum seekers
Demonstration
Barbara Roche: Stop Your Racist Scapegoating Of Refugees!
Saturday 7 October
Assemble 11 am, Ducketts Common, Haringey