RALLY AND PROTEST
UKBA Offices, Brand St, Govan
Stop the Evictions
End Destitution
Housing is a Human Right
Saturday 21 April, 11am
Nearest underground is Cessnock
Flyer here: 2xA5 - http://alturl.com/jr9zv
Called by: FBU Scotland, Glasgow City Unison, Glasgow Campaign to Welcome Refugees, National Coalition of Anti-Deportation Campaigns, Unity Centre, Defend Glasgow Services, Stop the War Coalition, Right to Work Campaign, Coalition of Resistance, Black Activists Rising Against the Cuts, Social Work Action Network and others.
At a meeting on Tuesday night, attended by numerous organisations, it was agreed unanimously to continue the campaign against the eviction and enforced homelessness of refused refugees by calling the above rally and protest at the UKBA offices in Brand St, Govan.
The statement below was agreed at the rally at the Red Road on Thursday 12 April.
Up to 140 Glasgow asylum seekers are to be evicted by their landlord, Ypeople, in the next few weeks, and left without home, and without access to work or any benefits or state support whatsoever. These people have had their claim for asylum refused even though most are unable to return to their countries because they are too dangerous. They include Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, Somalia, Zimbabwe and others.
Ypeople, a charity funded to provide accommodation to vulnerable people, claims they have to do this before handing over the housing of asylum seekers to Serco, a giant multinational making money for its shareholders out of running prisons and detention centres. The hand over period runs to November yet Ypeople have decided to evict everyone right now. Community groups say they will not be able to cope.
We call on Ypeople to act with humanity towards these extremely vulnerable people and on Glasgow City Council and the Scottish Government to step in and stop this disaster before it happens. What kind of city and what kind of Scotland are they governing that allows this kind of humanitarian outrage to occur?
Finally we call on the British government to honour its international obligations in the spirit as well as the letter by granting protection and the right to work for all people seeking sanctuary.
Come and support the demonstration on Saturday.
Bring friends, family, workmates, trade union branches, churches and other organisations, banners, placards etc.
If you wish to add your organisations name to the list of supporters of this demonstration, please send an email glascamref@gmail.com
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2: Scottish Parliament Motion
The motion below has been tabled by Hamza Yousuf MSP. Please contact your MSP urgently to ask them to support this motion.
Concern at Evictions in Glasgow
S4M-02634 Humza Yousaf () (Scottish National Party): That the Parliament raises serious concern at the decision to evict 140 asylum seekers and refugees in Glasgow; recognises that many of these families come from war-torn conflict zones that would be unsafe to return to; understands that, if evicted, families will be left with no home and no access to work or benefits; believes that compassion must be shown to the most vulnerable in society, and considers organisations such as the Fire Brigades Union Scotland have given fantastic support with their generous donations to enable the families to remain housed in the short term.
Shona McAlpine
(Office of Humza Yousaf MSP) t: (0131) 348 6210 / t: (0141) 353 1593 | m: 07824866604
e: shona.mcalpine@scottish.parliament.uk | www.humzayousaf.org FB: HumzaYousafSNP | Twitter: @HumzaYousaf
