Bristol No Borders Return to Blockade Portishead Border &
Immigration Agency

Bristol No Borders writes: As part of the ongoing campaign against dawn raids, protesters from Bristol No Borders have returned to blockade Portishead Border & Immigration Agency (BIA) depot to prevent them from being able to leave in vehicles and snatch families. The activists have chained themselves to a car blocking the car park exit. They have been there since 3 am. Mike Daly of Bristol No Borders said : “In December we came here and prevented the dawn raid squads from abducting families from their homes in the week before Christmas. Now we are back again. There will be no raids today. This inhumane practice needs to stop.” Full article.

| Portishead Immigration snatch squad hq blockaded again | Dawn Raid Prevented by Bristol (and national) Activists | Video: Bristol No Borders Action (the video is an .avi, try using VLC Media Player to view) | Press Release: 'No Borders' Activists Prevent 'Dawn Raids' on Children (UK Indymedia) | www.noborders.org.uk |

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Bristol No Borders writes: Activists belonging to the Bristol No Borders group have blockaded the regional centre for organising and executing the despicable practice of dawn raids against families, in order to 'remove them' from Britain .... Protesters from the No Borders network are currently blockading the bases of Immigration Enforcement Officers in simultaneous actions across the country, stopping them from entering or leaving in vehicles. The protesters are currently blockading immigration reporting centres in Glasgow, Bristol, Portsmouth and Newcastle. The protesters have been there since early this morning, and they have said that they will stay there until they can ensure that today, families throughout the country will be safe regardless of where they come from. The protest coincides with the UN International Migrant's Day. In response to the growing number of attacks on family homes by the Borders and Immigration Agency, the No Borders network have taken action to expose and prevent the sinister tactic of 'dawn raids' employed against families and young children. In Bristol, the protesters were in place in time to obstrtuct bemused immigration officials, whose vehicles are now trapped in the car park. A frustrated police officer on the scene was heard to say, "how did you know a dawn raid was happening this morning?"...Simon Summerhill of the No Borders network said, "We are here to expose what the government is doing – breaking down doors and snatching children from their beds in the middle of the night. Some children go to school, others go to prison. Immigration officers regularly target the vulnerable- families, children and the ill or traumatised, in order to boost their official figures of deportations." Full article.

| Dawn Raid Prevented by Bristol (and national) Activists | Video: Bristol No Borders Action (the video is an .avi, try using VLC Media Player to view) | Press Release: 'No Borders' Activists Prevent 'Dawn Raids' on Children (UK Indymedia) | www.noborders.org.uk | UN International Migrants Day (UN.org) | Related News: No Borders camp & protest | How to continue the 'No Borders' campaign |

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"All demonstrations are banned within a mile of Parliament whilst in session."

"Stop the War President Tony Benn has delivered a letter to the Home Secretary Jacqui Smith to make clear why our Troops Out demonstration at Parliament on Monday 8 October will take place, despite the ban by the government and police. It is essential that the voice of the antiwar majority in this country is present at Parliament when Gordon Brown makes his long awaited statement on Iraq." Read More

Stop this continuous war writes: On Monday 8 October the Stop the War Coalition will be marching from Trafalgar Square (assemble 1pm) to Parliament calling for all troops in Iraq to be brought home immediately. After a series of relatively co-operative meetings, the police now say they have been instructed not to allow the march to takeplace and that all demonstrations are banned within a mile of Parliament whilst in session.

This is a new development which threatens our democratic rights ... We are determined to march to make our views known to parliament on 8 October, when Gordon Brown will make his long awaited statement on Iraq. We urge everyone who opposes the war policies of our government to join the call for all British troops to come home immediately and to help defend our civil liberties now under attack. We have produced a petition calling on the authorities to review the decision to ban the march. Full Article

Bristol Coaches: Coaches leaves Bristol 9.30am, Anchor Road. Tickets £14 waged, £7 unwaged. For tickets either email: bristolstopwar (at) hotmail.com or phone: 07748982569. Full Article

Time & Location Of Demonstration: Monday 8 October 2007 1pm.
March to Parliament, in defiance of the ban. Assemble 1pm, Trafalgar Square, Central London.

| Urgent - Attemp To Ban Stop The War March | Bring All the Troops Home Now | Bristol Stop The War | National Stop The War | Petition against attempt to ban 8 Oct Demonstration | Sign the pledge for action against an attack on Iran |

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Following accusations of harrasment of cyclists on a Critical Mass, the police now stand accused of being soft on aggressive drivers. Joshua Hart writes; It has come to light that two drivers who drove their cars into cyclists at the May Critical Mass bicycle ride, have in all likelihood not been charged at all by Avon and Somerset Police. During a larger than usual Critical Mass bike ride in Bristol last May, two drivers intentionally drove into the back of the mass as it rode through St. Augustine's Parade. When police arrived on the scene, they let the drivers go to the dismay of the gathered crowd, and proceeded to arrest two cyclists. Responding to a FOI request, the Avon and Somerset Constabulary writes, "Your request for information has now been considered and I am not obliged to supply the information you have requested" They go on to cite the human rights act of 1998 to justify not releasing the information to the public because "someone could use this information to their benefit to seek retribution against the drivers of these vehicles for causing damage to their bicycles." Even though the request simply asked what charges were filed against the drivers without requesting their names, the request was nevertheless denied. . (Image; damage done by road-rage drver to a bike. The driver was freed and the cyclist arrested)

On the subject, Robin Lovelace writes; After the most successful Critical Mass Bristol ever happening in April this academic year is set to be one of action and unity for Bristol cyclists. The next critical mass will be this Friday 28th Sept, 5:30 at the central fountains. Full Article.

| Violent Drivers Given Free Ride After May Critical Mass | Police Accused of Harassing Critical Mass | Bristol Critical Mass is Back! |

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