SOAS students protest over deportation of cleaners
University of London's School of Oriental and African Studies students stage demonstration after raid by immigration police
15 June 2009
UNIVERSITY of London students have staged a protest at the School of Oriental and African Studies over immigration raids which saw five cleaners taken into detention.
The cleaners were involved in a recent campaign to win a so-called London Living Wage. Activists claim their fast-track deportation could have been done in "revenge" for their action.
Students occupied a university office today in protest at cleaners being taken into detention in a raid by immigration police.
"Universities should be sanctuaries, places free of violence and aggression. SOAS's reputation as a university has been tainted due to the complicity of state brutality in the arrest of the cleaners"
A student protester said: "Universities should be sanctuaries, places free of violence and aggression. SOAS's reputation as a university has been tainted due to the complicity of state brutality in the arrest of the cleaners."
Labour MP John McDonnell (Hayes and Harlington) said: "As living wage campaigns are building in strength, we are increasingly seeing the use of immigration statuses to attack workers fighting against poverty wages and break trade union organising.
"The message is that they are happy to employ migrant labour on poverty wages, but if you complain they will send you back home. It is absolutely shameful."
did you miss?
features
News by…
Topics
Football
People
Julia Buckley
Places
Usa
-
Stoke Newington
Character flat:All bills inc/WiFi,cable15 min2City
£180pw -
Morden Hall Park
Nice Double room in flatshare
£105pcm -
Peckham
F/furnished Doble room in lovely clean house share
£100pw
- gallery:
- all
- thelondonpaper
