Full report on Indymedia (follow link for background, more reports and photographs): http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2007/10/384688.html

Asylum seekers, refugees, trade unionists and supporters from all over the North marched from the Home Office in Sheffield to Lindholme Detention centre near Doncaster between 26-28th October. The marchers were demanding “The right to work for asylum seekers” and stating that “Seeking asylum is not a crime.” They finished at Lindholme immigration removals centre, the nearest such centre to Nottinghamshire, where asylum seekers are often held without having committed any criminal offence. The demonstration there on Sunday 28th was joined by supporters from Nottingham.

A rally was held at the fence of Lindholme and the marchers could hear detainees inside chanting in response to them. A candlelit vigil for those who’d died in detention centres was held and speakers from many countries, including the Congo, Zimbabwe, Sudan, Iran, Iraq and South Africa spoke. The demonstration is the latest in a series of protests at Lindholme making the demand to “Shut Down Lindholme!”

Friday 26th 12 noon: Demonstrate @ Milton House, Home Office (Charter Row, Sheffield S1 3FZ). Rally: 1.45pm @ Ellesmere Green, Burngreave, Sheffield.

Saturday 27th 9am @ Eastwood Methodist Church, Rotherham. Rally & social in Doncaster town centre from 6.30pm.

Sunday 28th 3pm: Demonstrate @ Lindholme Detention Centre (A614, Doncaster DN7 6EE)

Accommodation in Rotherham and Doncaster & refreshment stops. For info contact: dignitynotdetention [at] yahoo.co.uk or call: 07931 900167. See also: Lindholme Appeal/Close Lindholme group.

Download leaflet [attachment=7] produced by South Yorkshire Migrant and Asylum Action Group (SYMAAG). SYMAAG unites refugee, asylum and migrant organisations with campaign groups, trade unions, charities, political parties and supportive individuals. SYMAAG campaigns both for the rights of those seeking asylum and of those coming to work in this country. Contact via 0114 241 2780.

The detention centre is adjacent to Lindholme prison and was formerly part of RAF Lindholme. It has been used to incarcerate immigration detainees since 2000.

Read reports and see photos of previous action at Lindholme: Aug 2007 & Jan 2004.

Read full report on this website, and another report with photos on Indymedia UK.

See also Indymedia report: 26 migrants escape immigration prison in Oxford
These brave escapes from Campfield detention centre came after Home Office (Border and Immigration Agency) refused detainee demands last week.

See also: NCADC photos of 2004 demonstration at Lindholme detention/removal prison Lindholme 2004_1 and Lindholme 2004_2, and an Indymedia report of same 2004 Lindholme noise demo.

7th August: A demonstration took place this lunchtime outside Lindholme Detention
Centre, near Doncaster. From 11.30am to 1.45pm protestors showed
solidarity with the people detained inside for no other crime than
entering the UK seeking asylum from oppressive regimes at home. Instead of
being welcomed and given humane treatment to help them get over often
terrifying ordeals, they are incarcerated like criminals, locked up for
most of the day and from 7.30 at night, and denied vital contact with the
outside world. At Lindholme they are often left without any idea of when
their cases will be heard and are bemused as to why they are being held,
often with no idea of what lies ahead. Others are people who have lived in
the UK since childhood, often with families here and no knowledge of or
connections with the countries to which they face deportation.

The demonstrators are determined to focus public attention in the region
on the plight of asylum seekers and UK residents incarcerated at
Lindholme. The action coincides with demonstrations at Campsfield House in
Oxfordshire, where detainess have been forced to take desperate measures
against the inhuman way in which they are treated.

The demonstration was called by No Borders, an organisation challenging
this government’s right to incarcerate and deport asylum seekers and those
wishing to remain in the country where they have made their home.

—
Read another report with photos on Indymedia UK.

See also Indymedia report: 26 migrants escape immigration prison in Oxford
These brave escapes from Campfield detention centre came after Home Office (Border and Immigration Agency) refused detainee demands last week.

See also: NCADC photos of 2004 demonstration at Lindholme detention/removal prison Lindholme 2004_1 and Lindholme 2004_2, and an Indymedia report of same 2004 Lindholme noise demo.