Friends call for Yarl’s Wood closure
Friends joined others to demand the closure of Yarl’s Wood Immigration Removal Centre
Friends joined hundreds of protesters on 6 June to demand the closure of Yarl’s Wood Immigration Removal Centre and the freeing of the women detained there.
John Cockcroft, Sheila Mosley and Chris Gwyntopher of the Quaker Asylum and Refugee Network (QARN) were among the protesters. Speakers included Helena Kennedy QC, Shami Chakrabarti of Liberty, and actresses Juliet Stevenson and Romola Garai. Natalie Bennett of the Green Party also spoke, as did activists Finn MacKay and Zrinka Bralo.
Chris Gwyntopher described the demonstration as ‘noisy, with frequent loud chanting, rhythmic drumming and some singing’. Despite the noise, protestors were able to hear women chanting ‘We want freedom’ from inside the centre.
‘I was moved to tears by such energetic identification with women detained without trial or release date,’ Chris told the Friend. ‘Detaining women at Yarl’s Wood is cruel and contrary to the values of justice, respect for human rights and the rule of law. It is expensive and it does not deter desperate people from seeking sanctuary in the UK. It is denying the divine in each person detained.’
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