Shut Down Yarl's Wood
Yarl's Wood, Bedford, UK. Sat 24 Mar 2018
Movement for Justice protesters on the march to Yarl's Wood
the march turns off down a public footpath
and makes its way alongside the first field
to a short stretch of public byway
and then beside a second long field
before crossing a ditch and skirting around a large puddle
to reach the gate into the field beside the detention centre
The fence is 20ft tall, solid for 10ft then 10 ft of mesh
'No Human Is Illegal' and an Antifascist Action flag
Women greet the protesters, waving out from the windows of the prison.
Most of the women inside cannot get to
the windows as on the protest days they are locked in their own block,
but they can still hear and are heartened
to know they are not forgotten. Some have clearly been preparing for
the protest, writing messages. The windows
can only be opened a short distance - just enough to get an arm out.
The messages call for help and for freedom
and some tell us they have been inside for 6 months. Detention was
initially ment to be for a maximum of 28 days
but now it is an indefinite sentence. One of those protesting outside
today was held for two days less than THREE YEARS
before her release. Once released many are brought back in again without
notice - they go for a routine interview
and are taken directly here. Someone holds up a white bra from a first
floor window. The protesters can stand on a slight
rise facing the fence and can see the windows on the first and second
floor through the mesh - and wave back
'Freedom, Freedom' ' No Law Here', 'Shut It Down'...
As well as women there are some families held together on the lower
floors of this block
Some windows like this cannot be seen through
People kick and bang the fence to make a din between chating and speeches
Others stand on the hill with posters and placards
MfJ have brought a ladder so that those inside can see the speakers
as well as hear them
and MfJ's Antonia Bright introduces the first speaker
Mabel Gawanas was inside here for almost 3 years and knows many of
the women - and starts by speaking to them
before turning to the crowd outside
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