Report/Photos of Demonstration in Response to the Killing of Jimmy Mubenga by GS4

international | rights, freedoms and repression | other press

Monday November 15, 2010 16:14

by Ciaron - Giueseppe Conlon House/ London Catholic Worker

On October 12th 2010, Jimmy Mubenga was killed by GS4 security guards in a packed plane waiting for take off on the runway at Heathrow, London. While being deported to Angola he was being heavilly restrained by security guards and had complained of breathing problems.

Kevin Wallis, a passenger on the aircraft, said he heard Jimmy Mubenga complain "I can't breath, I can't breath" for at least 10 minutes before he lost consciousness, and later observed that handcuffs had been used in the restraint.

The guards work for G4S, aprivate security firm sub-contracted by the British government to carry out deportations.

Jimmy's body remains in the custody of the state, which can't work out whether to deport the corpse of Jimmy Mubenga or finally grant him the assylum of a grave on British soil. The family understandably are distraught. It was very courageous of them, and other Angolans, to attend this demonstration.

According to the "Institute for Race Relations", 77 people have died as the result of UK's harsh Border Regime. This past Friday I attended a demonstration in downtown London, we marched with Jimmy's widow and children from the Angolan Embassy to the Home Office. This is a good report (woth photos) of the demonstration by Lara.............

Report/Photos of Demonstration in Response to the Killing of Jimmy Mubenga by GS4
by Lara

Consider this. We were marching on a working day, a Friday, in central London. It was a very specific demonstration, to demand justice for Jimmy Mubenga and justice for his family. It was always going to be a long walk from the Angolan embassy to the Home Office on Marsham Street. In the event, it became even longer by the time the police had finished diverting us down the back of the Palace and then away from St James’ Park. (The reason: ‘They’re changing the guard at Buckingham Palace.’ Said Alice. ”It would frighten the horses.’ Really? They can cope with a 21-gun salute, so how could they possibly be frightened by a very peaceful demonstration led by a grieving family? ) Consider too the weather. Heavy rain predicted for the entire morning. Consider too that many of the target marchers – the Angolan community in the UK – came under pressure not to come out. They had to draw on significant reserves of courage and determination to join the rest of us who were under no threat whatsoever. Taking all this into account, we were delighted to be joined by over 150 protesters, the vast majority of whom were Angolan, some Congolese, a couple of Iraqis, a group of Brits, an Australian, and various others. This was already a success.

Article continued.........
http://savageclown.wordpress.com/2010/11/14/twelve-elev...-ten/