Solidarity and Support for Calais Seekers of Sanctuary

By Rahila Gupta

The Guardian - For all those who have been depressed by increasingly harsh measures against asylum seekers by Britain, France and other European countries, here is a glimmer of hope. The transnational No Borders network and SôS Soutien aux Sans Papiers in France have come together to open a centre in Calais, a “self-organising” space to provide practical support, solidarity and information sharing for asylum seekers. Last summer we were subjected to pictures of people being chased like animals in brutal search and destroy missions by the French police in the woods near Calais, cheered on by the British government. The police dragged away 278 campers, nearly half of whom were minors from places like Afghanistan.

According to Sylvie from Calais Migrants Solidarity, opening this centre is an act of resistance to immigration laws and an attempt to draw attention to the plight of migrants. The No Borders network believes that “in a real democracy, every person enriches society in myriad ways, and no one is surplus to requirements; neither the unemployed, the young, the old, or the foreign”. A spokesperson from London No Borders said it will also operate like a drop-in centre, providing clothes, blankets, food and general cheer to those sleeping rough. It will be run mainly by No Borders activists who have been operating on the ground since last year.

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