Last year, 15 people grounded a deportation charter flight for ten hours to prevent it taking off. On MONDAY 19TH March 2018, they are standing trial, charged with a terrorism-related offence that could result in life imprisonment!
JOIN US outside Chelmsford Crown Court to support the defendants, to demand the charges are dropped, and to demand an end to deportation charter flights.
There will be a line-up of speakers from 9-9:30am followed by performances.
<<Food not Bombs>> and <<Oxford Action Resource Centre>> will also kindly be providing hot food and refreshments on the day.
*WHEN*
8:30am, MONDAY 19TH MARCH. Please arrive promptly.
*WHERE*
Chelmsford Crown Court,
New Street, Chelmsford, Essex, CM1 1EL
*TRANSPORT*
There will be a coach leaving at 7am, from Liverpool Street Station. Please arrive by 6.45am as the coach can’t wait for late comers.
Book your seat in advance here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/coach-to-chelmsford-crown-court-solidarity-with-stansted-defendants-tickets-43273231400
**Please let us know in advance if you need wheelchair access, as some seats may need to be removed**
**Please wear a pink item of clothing at the rally to show your support**
There are also trains from Liverpool St station to Chelmsford.
COME READY TO EXPRESS YOUR SOLIDARITY, ENERGY, LOVE AND RAGE, BE IT IN SONG, MUSIC, SPOKEN WORD, BANNERS OR CHANTING, AS WE RALLY IN SUPPORT OF THE STANSTED DEFENDANTS, AND AGAINST DEPORTATION CHARTER FLIGHTS.
Your solidarity is also welcome all day on Twitter @EDeportations and on FB.
#EndDeportations
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Secret deportation flights take thousands of people from our communities every year. Parents, friends and neighbours are targeted on the basis of their perceived nationality and snatched to fill a flight that the Home Office has chartered. Many critics have argued that like Trump’s ‘muslim ban,’ these deportations are unjust and racist. Violence and abuse from security contractors have been documented on these flights. Most people would be horrified if they were aware of the nature of this process.
The Stansted action was the first time a deportation flight has been grounded in the UK by people taking action against the immigration system. People who would have been forced onto the flight were able to stay in the UK because of the action, as it gave them time to have their applications heard. People across the UK are standing together to stop the Home Office breaking up families and tearing communities apart.
For more information on the campaign see: https://enddeportations.wordpress.com/