CALAIS: HANGAR-ING ON

Calais activists briefly reopened the migrant solidarity centre following last week’s violent eviction (see SchNEWS 709). The mayor of Calais ordered the eviction on the grounds that the hangar was not fit for public use, so on Wednesday morning activists opened the rented building as an exclusive private members’ club.

After the centre had shut for the day, police sealed off the surrounding streets before trying to force their way into the building. They arrested the five activists that let them in to show there were no migrants inside but later released them without charge.

The area around the hangar is still sealed off and for now the centre remains closed. One activist said, “Another violent eviction will not deter us, we will not stand by and watch human beings being treated as animals. eight years of violence and migrants are still in Calais because there is no recognition of the reasons behind migration from places such as Afghanistan, Darfur and Iran.”

*For more information see calaismigrantsolidarity.wordpress.com