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WOMEN ON HUNGER STRIKE AT YARL’S WOOD DETENTION CENTRE
Posted by Charlotte on February 8, 2010
Directly from Black Women’s Rape Action Project
:
Over fifty women are currently trapped in an airless hallway in Yarl’s Immigration Removal Centre. On Friday 5 February they began a hunger strike. Today they were herded into the hallway were they have been left there for over two hours without access to water or toilets. Four women, including an asthma sufferer, have fainted. Around 1.30 the guards came into the hallway and started to beat women. As we spoke to one woman she told us that someone was bleeding.
One of the managers told the women they would regret what they have done; she called the Chinese women monkeys, and the Black women black monkeys. Four other women have been locked in other rooms for three hours, and have been told by room mates that their belongings have been packed. They are worried they face immediate removal even though their cases are still being considered. Fifteen women have been locked up in “Kingfisher”, the punishment wing.
According to women on the other wings all movement has been restricted – even those not on the hunger strike are not getting any food including diabetics who urgently need it.
Hunger strikers want to speak to the press and get the truth out about the protest.
They are protesting at the length of time they have been detained – one woman who cannot speak English, has been held for over two years.
EDIT: So happy that the Guardian picked this up
February 8th, 2010 at 5:18 pm
I’d write a long angry rant about this kind of thing happening but I’m overwhelmed by a need to vomit and sob.
*head implodes forthwith*