[Debate] Fw: National Front disrupt Newcastle asylum march (UK)

[m_redmond at btinternet.com]

Report and photos on Indymedia
https://publish.indymedia.org.uk/en/2009/06/432786.html

Sunday Sun
http://www.sundaysun.co.uk/news/north-east-news/2009/06/21/extremists-disrupt-newcastle-asylum-march-79310-23935176/

Megan.

Jun 21 2009 by Phil Doherty, Sunday Sun
Extremists disrupt Newcastle asylum march


http://tinyurl.com/l37zub


Pro-asylum seeker protesters take to the streets while, inset, police
officers deal with the National Front marchers


UGLY confrontations marred a city centre demonstration yesterday as
far right extremists tried to hijack a pro-asylum seeker march.



Members of Tyneside Community Action for Refugees (TCAR) were holding
a peaceful demonstration in Newcastle highlighting alleged poor
conditions asylum seekers experience inside detention centres and
protesting against dawn raids by immigration police.



As they made their way from Grainger Street, they were met by around
25 National Front supporters with banners and flags calling for all
immigrants to be sent home.



When NF supporters tried to block the march route, police moved in and
forced them to one side so the TCAR supporters could march on towards
Grey's Monument.



More police reinforcements arrived to keep the two sides apart and the
NF contingent dispersed only to reappear at the Monument. Sam McGill,
press liaison officer for TCAR, said: "We marched today to protest
at the conditions asylum seekers are kept in Yarl's Wood Detention
Centre in Bedfordshire and others across the country and to show we
are against racism."



Yesterday's march started at the Centre for Life and then made its
way to the Central Station, along Grainger Street before heading down
Market Street and then onto Grey Street and to the Monument.



Earlier in the day, right wing extremists attacked the TCAR stall as
they were setting it up at the Monument.



Sam McGill added: "Everyone else was at the Centre for Life and
around eight men appeared and ripped our banner down and tried to run
off with it.



"We managed to get hold of the banner but they pushed us back until
I was squashed against the Monument."
 
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