The Politics of Anti Deportation

8/9/2019 The Politics of Anti Deportation

1/13

1

The politics of anti deportation campaigning:A contentious social movement in SheffieldStuart Crosthwaite and John Grayson

PleaseDoNotCiteorReproducewithouttheAuthorsPermissionNongovernmentalorganizationsstretchtheboundariesofcitizenshipsetbynation-states,byrecognizingnon-citizensasmembersoftheirpolity,byrepresentingthemintheirstruggleforgreaterlaborandsocialprotections,andbyextendingsomeformsofsocialprotectiontothem.Byengagingintheseinitiatives,theseorganizationsdefactotransformnon-citizensintocitizensatthegrassrootslevel.(Basokp265)Youmayneedacampaignwhenthelawisnotenoughtostopdeportationorremoval.Ifthelawwasenoughthenyouwouldnotbeinthesituationyouareinnow.Acampaignmeansfightingbackpolitically.Itmeansbecomingactivenotrelyingonafewemailsor

standardlettersorevenagoodlegalrepresentative.Itmeansorganisingandworkingwithotherpeople.Itmeansdemonstrationsandpickets.Mostofallitmeanspublicityandgoingpublic.(NOII2007CampaigningagainstDeportationorRemoval)

Themostrecentdevelopmentofasocialmovementaroundanti-deportationcampaigningintheUKdatesfromthelate1990s.Therewascampaigninginthe1980s(Farrarp238)butby2002itwouldbehardtoclaimthatamasssocialmovementwas

stillinoperation(ibidp239).Anationalcoordinatingorganisation,theNationalCoalitionofAntiDeportationCampaigns(NCADC)hademergedin1995,theCommitteetoDefendAsylumSeekers(CDAS)alittlelaterandthereweresporadiccampaignsaroundindividualsthreatenedwithdeportation.Legislationinthe1993AsylumAppealsandImmigrationAct,the1996AsylumandImmigrationActandtheImmigrationandAsylumAct1999openedupanunprecedenteddelugeoflegislationperhapsculminatinginthecurrent(2009)ImmigrationBill.Legislation,inSteveCohenswords,aimedatanyonefleeingwarpovertyandmayhem(Cohenp.29).


2/13

2

WewillarguethatfromaSheffieldperspectivethedevelopmentofasignificantsocialmovementaroundanti-deportationcampaigningcanbeseentobearesponsetothesocialandpoliticaleffectsofthislegislation,inparticularthepunitiveandattimesbrutaloperationofthelegislationcreatinginCohensmemorablephrasetheOrwellianworldofimmigrationcontrols(Cohen2006).ThereactionstothesestatepoliciesinplaceslikeSheffieldhave,asoneofourintervieweesputit,builtasocialmovementaroundthe

politicsofoutrage.Current roots of campaigning in SheffieldSheffieldcampaignersagainsthomelessnesssawthedispersalofasylumseekerstospreadtheburdenfromtheSouthEastofEnglandasalikelyrecipefordestitutionamongstarrivingrefugees.Dispersaltargetedareashademptyorlowdemandhousing.Theseareaswerealsoofcoursetownsandcitieswhichwereonlyslowlyrecoveringfromdeindustrialisationandthemassunemploymentofthe1980sand1990s.Between2000and2006YorkshireandtheHumberreceivedbetween20and22%ofthenationaltotalofdispersedasylumseekers.

SheffieldhadrehousedandresettleddispersedrefugeesbeforeparticularlyChileanfamiliesfleeingfromPinochetsregimefrom1974throughaTradesCouncilChileancommittee.UgandanAsiansarrivedin1972andVietnamesefrom197983,Somalisafterwarbrokeoutin1988.Yemeniscameafterthecivilwarin1995tojoinexistingcommunitieswhichhadbeeninSheffieldfor35yearshavingfilledapost-warlabourshortageatlocalsteelworks.Local welcomes, central harassmentIn1999,manylocalpeopleralliedtotransformFolkwoodSchoolintoreception

accommodationforKosovanrefugees.Hundredsofpeopleprovidedfurnitureandfittingsforthebuilding,withmanybusinessesdonatingTVs,videorecorders.Research(Craigetal2005)foundthattheKosovanevacueeswereoverwhelminglypositiveaboutthisinitialreceptionofferedbylocalpeoplebuthadrealreservationsabouttheareasandqualityofaccommodationtheywerethengiven.ThusdispersalandresettlementwasnotanewprocessforSheffield.InfactthemajorrefugeeandasylumseekeragencyinthecitytheNorthernRefugeeCentre(NRC)wasfoundedtosupportVietnameserefugees.ThecitywasalsooneofonlytwoareasnationallytorespondtotheGatewayProtectionPolicyin2004/5withthearrivalofLiberianandthenBurmeserefugeesfromUNHCRcamps.Whatchangedinthedispersalpolicyafter2000wasthecentrallydirectedpunitivepoorlawpoliciestowardsasylumseekersatalocallevelwithpoorhousingandvouchers,linkedtoagrowingregimeofforceddeportationanddetention,andintimidationoffailedasylumseekersreducingthemtodestitution.Localactivists,asylumseekersandstudentsfromtheSheffieldbranchofStudentActionforRefugees(STAR)hadby2002organisedConversationClubsforinformallyteachingEnglishandasdrop-incentreformigrants.Theconversationclubsmodelprovedtobe


3/13

3

animportantsafespaceinwhichasylumseekersstartedtodecidetoorganisetheirownsupportedcampaignstakenupthenbyCDAS.InAugust2003ASSIST(AsylumSeekerSupportInitiativeShortTerm)wasestablishedtoprovideemergencyaccommodationandfinancialsupport.ASSISTestimatesthattherearearound1000destituteasylumseekersinSheffield.Theorganisationis

dependentonalargenumberofvolunteers(around70)includingrefugeesandasylumseekers.Ithasaccesstofourhousesandtwocaravans,andaround24placesinhostedaccommodation.ASSISTisacampaigningaswellasawelfareorganisationsupportingindividualsandotherorganisationsinanti-deportationcampaigns.Labours forced removal and deportation policies: the response in SheffieldAlocalSheffieldbranchofCDASwasformedaround2000andin2007theSouthYorkshireMigrationandAsylumActionGroup(SYMAAG)wascreated.Thecampaignsofthese,andotherorganisations,havefocusedbothonoppositiontoparticular

deportationthreatsandagainstgeneralpoliciesofexclusion,destitution,detentionandmassdeportation.Withawidesocialandpoliticalbase,campaignsagainstforceddeportationandfortherightsofpeopleseekingasylumarenowavisibleandintegralfeatureofSheffieldpoliticallife.


4/13

4

Experiencing a War Iraqi Kurds in SheffieldFromanIraqiasylumseekersperspectiveandthoseworkinginsolidaritywiththemgovernmentpolicywasseenasanotherdimensionofWar,withvariousstagesfrom2003tothepresent

1. Creating an Enemy.ToensurethatlivingillegallybecomesevermoreuncomfortableandconstraineduntiltheyleaveorareremovedHomeOffice2007GettoughonillegalsDavidBlunkettHomeSecretaryquotedinTheScotsman13/11/2003Inthefirstquotetheenemyarethoselivingillegally:thosewithanillegallife.Thesecondisevenlessambiguous:theUKGovernmentistogettoughonthosepeoplewho

areillegalAnadjectivehasbeentransformedintoanoun,anenemygrouptherebycreatedandacultureofxeno-racismandIslamaphobia;theasylumseekeratthegateandtheshadowyMuslimwithin(Sivanandan2006).ThoseseekingasylumintheUKhavebeenidentifiedasalienstowhomdifferentsetsofrulesapplycomparedtoUKcitizens.2. Re-arming for WarTherehasbeenthecreationofaprivatisedandthereforeunaccountabledeportationindustry.Since1997therehasbeentheprivatisationofdetentioncentres,usedpriortodeportation;andofsecurityorganisationstophysicallydeportpeople,withcontract

bonuspaymentsonresult,describedasoutsourcingabuse(MedicalJusticeNetwork2009).Since2005therehasbeentheincreasinguseofthedeportationcharterflightinordertoavoidtheproblemsarisingfromuseofcommercialflightswherepassengersprotestedatthebrutaltreatmentofdeportees,andpilotsrefusedtofly.Theexpenseofcharterflightsresultsinpressuretofillallseatsandthereforereduceopportunitiesforlegalchallengebygivingnonoticeofdeportationandtheoperationofagruesomeversionofanairlinestand-bysystemwhereanysuccessfullegalchallengesmeanquickreplacementsfromapoolofthosedetainedandpreviouslyservedremovalnotices.AttheextremewasaproposalforanAsylumAirlinesbyanAustriansecuritycompanyin2007involvingdedicatedfacilities.

Therehasbeentherapidgrowthofaninformation-gatheringnetwork:PeopleseekingasylumhavelongcarriedIDcardsandfrom2008werealsofingerprinted.Currently(November2009)thereareproposalstointroducegenetictestingtodeterminenationality!


5/13

5

3. Laying SiegeIraqiKurdsseetheGovernmentslongtermpoliciesasakindofsiegebecausetoforciblydeporteverypersonwithoutleavetoremainisfinanciallyimpossible.In2004TonyBlairestablishedadeportationformulabasedonthemonthlyrateofremovalsexceedingthenumberofunfoundedapplications(Fekete2009p137).InFebruary2004

theHomeOfficeannouncedthatforIraqiKurdstheformulawouldmeanthousandsdeportedattherateof30perweek.InSheffieldtherewerearound1000IraqiKurdswhowantedasylum.AtthistimeeventheHomeOfficerecognisedthatIraqwasnotsafe,norwasthereasaferouteofreturn.AttemptstoencouragevoluntaryreturnthroughtheInternationalOrganisationforMigration(IOM)failed(evenwiththeofferofpaymentsof500relocationgrants).MostreceivedSection4support(35perweekfoodvouchersandaccommodation).LettersweresenttoeverytraceableIraqiKurdinAugust2005statingthatunlessSection4recipientsagreedtovoluntarilyreturntosafeIraqtheywouldberequiredtoleaveaccommodationandwillnotbeentitledtoanyotherformofsupport.AmemberofthelocalKurdishCommunityAssociationdescribeditasaninvitationtosignyourown

deportationorder.Around30%oftheIraqiKurdsrefusedtosignandwentundergroundleadingtowidespreaddestitution.4. Direct AttackThosewhosignedthisagreementlosttheirlegalrighttocontestdeportationsandwererequiredtoreportatpolicestationsorImmigrationServiceofficestoqualifyforfoodvouchers.Manyweredetained(kidnappedasonedescribedit)whentheydidso.Thiswasthenextstageintheexecutionofthewarwithdeportationbymilitarycharterflightsin2005and2006.TheImmigrationServicealsosteppedupraidsonplaceswherepeoplemighthavebeenworkingintheundergroundeconomy.

5. ResistanceTheresultwasspontaneousresistance.AmainroadintoSheffieldwasblockedby50IraqiKurdsandonemanwentonhungerstrikebysewinghislipstogether.AnorganisationcalledtheCampaignAgainstDetentionandDeportationofIraqis(CADDI)wasformed,drawing100toitsfirstmeetingandorganisingdemonstrationsthelargestwasof200peoplemarchingthroughSheffield.ThecampaignwasbroadandunitedthelocalKurdishpopulation,includingrepresentativesfromvariousKurdishpoliticalorganisations;theStoptheWarCoalition;farleftpoliticalorganisations;SheffieldNoBorders;representativesfromlocalYemeniandAfro-Caribbeancommunitiesand

SheffieldTradesUnionCouncil.Newalliancesweremade,betweenchurchgroupsandlocalsquattersmovementswhocreatedsemi-officialsafehousesforthosetryingtoavoiddetection:betweenalocalTenantsandResidentsAssociationandtheKurdishCommunityAssociation.PressurewasgreatenoughforallthreelocalLabourPartycouncillorsfortheareatowritetotheHomeSecretaryprotestingagainstthepolicyofenforceddestitutionanddeportation.LocalLabourMPDavidBlunketttriedtoarguethattroublemakershadpersuadedthemantogoonhungerstrike.


6/13

6

Thisresistancetodeportationhadnationalandinternationaldimensions.Sheffieldbecamethefocusofnationaloppositiontothesedeportations:membersoftheInternationalFederationofIraqiRefugees(IFIR)spokethereandreportedfromIraqaboutthefateofthosepreviouslydeported.

Soonafterthisattack,Kurdishcommunityrepresentativeswithdrewfromregularnational

meetingsaboutthepositionofKurdishasylumseekersintheUKhostedbytheHomeOfficebetweenthemselves,Iraqiembassyofficials,representativesfromtheKurdishRegionalGovernment(KRG)anditsmainconstituentpoliticalparties.AnIraqicommentatorlaterexplained:Itdidnotoccurtothem(Iraqiasylumseekers)thattheirowngovernmentwouldcolludewiththeirhostcountriestohavethemflownbyforcetothehelltheyescapedfrom.(Abdulsalam2009)

Thisforeignwarpolicydimensionwithcommercialandpoliticalinterestsinmindisonewhichappearsinotherantideportationcampaigns,notablyAfghanistan,SudanandtheDemocraticRepublicofCongo.UltimatelytheUKGovernmentdidsucceedindeporting25%oftheirtargettoIraqiKurdistan.However,theironythatthewaragainstIraqwasfoughtunderabannerofprotectingtheKurdsisnotlostonSheffieldasylumseekers.

AsoneIraqiactivistsaidTherearenohumanrightshere.ItmeansshamefortheUK,notwhatweheardonthenews.(SeealsoCrosthwaite2006)

SYMAAG (South Yorkshire Migration and Asylum Action Group)SYMAAG,acampaigning,lobbyinganddirectactiongroup.wasestablishedin2007.Itemergedaftera3daymarchfromSheffieldHomeOfficetoLindholmedetentioncentrenearDoncaster,35milesaway,todemandDignityNotDetention.Thishigh-profileeventinvolving200peoplefrom16countrieslaidthebasisofthegroupsfuturecampaigningandestablishedacoalitionofapparentlydisparatesocial,communityandpoliticalgroups.AsoneSudanesemarcherexplainedNowIcanlookpeopleintheeye.


7/13

7

SYMAAGDignitynotDetentionmarch2007SYMAAGhasorganisedpublicmeetingsofupto300people;hasfrequente-mailnewslettersto280individualsandorganisationsregionally;organiseshigh-profiledemonstrationsinSheffieldandhasmetmanyoftheregionsMPsandrelevantcouncillors.

FromtheformationofSYMAAGmanyofitsactivistshavebeenpeoplewhoareseekingasylum.WewouldarguethatSheffieldhasanumberoffeatureswhichfacilitatetheirinvolvementinongoingandgeneralisedcampaignworkforasylumrightsandagainstdeportation,whatSquirecallsmobilesolidarities(Squirep3)AsoneDarfuriasylumseekerexplainedYouwillneverfeellonelyinSheffield.Perhapsaresidueofitsmunicipalsocialismisanethosofinclusivitywithcheaperaccesstoeverythingfromsportstoentertainmentfacilitiesandnumerousculturaleventshostedbyrefugeeandasylum-seekingcommunities.(SeeLansleyetal1989andTayloretal1996)NRChasaround100asylum-seekingvolunteers,asbefrienders,adviceworkersandcommunitydevelopmentworkers.Studentsfromthetwouniversitiesengageincampaignandsupportwork.Amongstsometeaching,citycouncilandhealth

professionalstherehasoftenbeenoutwardsupportforasylumseekersentitlementsandadontask,donttellpolicyusedwhenlegislationwouldnormallyexcludethem.EstablishedYemeniandChileanmigrantcommunitieshavewornapaththroughofficialchannelsmakingprogresseasierforthosewhohavefollowed.Manynewrefugeecommunityorganisationshaveestablishedthemselves,theCongoleseformingapan-Africancampaigningandeducationalgroup.AlongsidethesearetheUKbranchesofpoliticalpartiesfromcountriesoforigin,eachwiththeirexperienceofpoliticalcommitmentandendurance.


8/13

8

Who has been mobilised?Sheffieldhasadistinctiveleftwingcollectivistpoliticalandsocialmovementhistory.(SeePrice2008)Peopleweinterviewedidentifiedthisasamajorfactorindevelopingand

sustainingtheantideportationmovement.OneintervieweesuggestedthatmanyindividualswhohadaLabourPartyand/ortradeunionbackgroundhadjoinedantideportationcampaigninginthetraditionofchampioningtheunderdogdisillusionedwithwhatremainedofthelabourmovementandlocalpolitics.Certainlyleadershipintheorganisationswasfrompeopleintheir50sand60sveteransofearlierradicalperiodsinSheffieldorelsewhere.(SeeBarker2001)ManyoftheactivistshaveaChristianchurchbackground.SheffieldhasareputationagainborneoutbyitshistoryofmixingMethodismwithSocialism.Antideportationcampaigninghassuckedinawholerangeofradicalandpoliticalclergy,ministersandcongregationsgoingbeyondtheestablishedphilanthropicorcharityapproaches.Thisisnotsurprisingformanyoftheasylumseekersfightingdeportationarethemselvesactivemembersof

Christianchurches.SolidarityhasmeantaQuakercoupledonatingtheirlifesavingstobuyingtwohousesforusebyASSIST.LocalAnarchistsquattergroupshaverunworkshopsfortheorganisations.ACatholicnunhasbeeninvolvedincampaigningandopenedupalocalchurchparticularlytoEritreanandEthiopianasylumseekers,manyofthemMuslims.AMethodistministeropenedupasmallnightshelterfordestituteasylumseekers.ABaptistchurchrentedahouseforusebyafailedasylumseekerfamilyforcedtogoundergroundtoavoiddeportation.ThecongregationdebatedwhetherthiswasillegalbutasoneoftheintervieweesputitItoldthemitwasGodslawwewereobeyingnotthegovernment

ThispoliticalcampaigningroleforlocalchurchesonasylumseekersdevelopedfromexistingsocialactionnetworkslikeChurchActiononPoverty(CAP)andtheCatholicJusticeandPeacenetwork.ThelocalChurchActiononPovertynetworkidentifiedtheissueofdestitutionamongstasylumseekersasamajoronein2004andwrotetoalllocalcandidatesinthe2005GeneralElection.CAPmembershelpedtoformSYMAAGin2007.Beyondthechurchesnetworksactivistsrepresentordrawonpublicsectorprofessionalworkersandstaffandstudentsfromthetwouniversities,andtheeducatedmiddleclassesparticularlyofSouthWestSheffield.TheconstituencyofHallamhadandstillhasoneofthehighestproportionsofgraduatesinanyconstituencyinEngland(Dorlingp.43).Professionalsworkinginandagainstthestate(SeeBarnesandPrior2009andLondonEdinburgh.1980)havebeeninvolvedinSheffieldcampaignsonasylum

seekershealthcareandchildrenofasylumseekers,mobilisedthroughlargepublicmeetingsorganisedbySYMAAG.Intervieweesalsosawthetradeunionnetworksandworkingclassactivistsasimportantincontributingtoanti-deportationcampaigns.In2007/8UNITEhelpeddevelopaMigrantWorkersSupportNetworkwithSYMAAGandotherSheffieldvoluntaryagencieswhichamongstotherthingsmonitoredraidsonunionisedfactoriesforillegals,inonecaseIraqiKurdishasylumseekers.Italsosupportedajointsteward/campaignerworkshop


9/13

9

withtheNRC.TheTUCLetThemWorkcampaignwasseenbyoneintervieweeasveryimportantingivingrealpubliclegitimacytothecampaigns.Recently,strikingbusdriverspicketsinSheffieldenmassesignedapetitiontostopthedeportationofaNigerianasylumseekerwhohadbeenpersecutedforhisunionactivitiesasabusworker.MembersofthePublicandCommercialServicesunionattheSheffieldUKBordersAgencyitselfhaveofferedsupportthroughtheirNotANumbercampaign.SYMAAG

hasbuiltstronglinkswithUniteAgainstFascism(UAF),inSouthYorkshirelargelyfinancedbytheunionsandjointlyorganisedwithTradesCouncils.InBarnsleyin2008theTradesCouncilwithteachersunionsandtheminerssponsoredaSYMAAGSolidaritywithAsylumSeekersconferenceonMayDayintheMinersHall.

IntheMinersHallBarnsleyMayday2008

ItisalsosignificantthattheorganisationsoffirstgenerationmigrantsfromtheCaribbeanandPakistanhavenotbeenvisibleinantideportationandtraditionalracerelationsorganisationslikethelocalCouncilforRacialEqualityhavebeensidelinedbynewagenciesmobilisinglargenumbersofvolunteersandactivists.Activistsinimportantsocialmovementsfromthe90sliketheSAYM(SheffieldAsianYouthMovement)(seeRenton2006)cannowbefoundascouncillorsorintegratedintomainstreamracerelationsroles.(Khan2008,seeFarrar1999forsimilarpatterninLeeds)AnexceptiontothisisthelocalChileanrefugeecommunityfromthe1970swhichhascontinuedsolidarityactionandjoinedrecentantideportationcampaigning.


10/13

10

Political opportunismUpto1999SheffieldwasstillfirmlyLabourcouncilterritory.(SeeSeydandWhiteley1992Lansleyetal1989)From1999theLiberalDemocratshavecontestedpowerandat

present(2009)areincontrol.TheGreensarealsoanestablishedminorparty.Thisperiodhasofcoursealsobeentheperiodwhenasylumseekersandtheirpoliticshaveemergedinthecity.CampaigningorganisationshavebeenabletobenefitfromthisfluidpoliticswithaLabourgovernmentinpower.ThefactthatthenationalCityofSanctuarymovementbeganinSheffieldistestamenttotheinfluenceofreligiousgroupsonthecouncil,althoughtheoriginalfundingfortheprojectcamefromfoundations.SimilarlylocalantideportationcampaignersandtradeunionvoicesmanagedtogettheLiberalDemocratcounciltousetheSustainableCommunitiesActtodeclarethattheCityCouncilareashouldbeonewhereasylumseekersshouldbegiventherighttowork.Bothmeasuresalsodemonstratethefactthatsectionsoftheelectorateinatraditionallyradicalcityarestillseenbypoliticiansasprogressiveandwillingtorejectracismandinjustice.

ConclusionsSheffieldantideportationcampaigningisanexampleofasignificantcontentioussocialmovementbeingbuiltasareactiontogovernmentpoliciesonasylumandimmigrationsince2000andbuiltonthepoliticsofoutrageandanactivenetwork.InOctober2009ameetingwasconvenedtofurthercoordinatecampaigningworktendifferentorganisationsmetand,amongstotherthings,decidedtherewasaneedforadeportationalertsystemtocoordinatesupporttothreatenedindividuals.PerhapsthebroadandinclusivenatureoftheSheffieldantideportationcampaignbasedonsolidaritywithindividualsdecidingtocampaign,andcruciallyitscollectivepoliticallobbying,is

somecluetoitsapparenteffectivenessWeestimatearound300activistsaremobilisedinSheffieldallofwhomseeanti-deportationcampaignsonthebasisofthecasesinitiatedbyasylumseekersthemselvesassomethingtosupport.CertainlywehavedetectedwhatColinBarkerhascalledcollectiveeffervescence:thephenomenonofpeoplechanging.Asenseofselfempowerment,thede-legitimationofexistingauthority,andthecreationofnewinformalandformalinstitutionsandnetworks(Barkerp11)TheSheffieldsocialmovementperhapsdoesrepresentSquiresnotionofmobilesolidarities,avoidingdistinctionsbetweendeservingandundeservingrefugees.

Characterizedbytheformationofmobilerelationsofsolidarityinwhichdistinctions

betweencitizens/noncitizens,betweendifferentnationalorculturalgroups,andbetween

differentmigrantcategoriesbegintounravel.Inthisregard,mobilesolidarities..exceedthetermsofexistingintegrationandcohesionpolicies.(Squirep3)3577words


11/13

11

ReferencesAbdulsalamF.2009IraqiexilesdecrytheirgovernmentsdecisiontoallowhostcountriessendthemhomebyforceAzzaman June17thwww.azzaman.comBarkerC.1999EmpowermentandResistance:CollectiveEffervescenceandother

accountsinBagguleyP.andHearnJ.TransformingPolitics:PowerandResistanceLondon:Macmillanpp11-31BarkerC.,JohnsonAandLavaletteM2001Leadershipmatters:anintroductioninBarkerCJohnsonAandLavaletteMedsLeadershipandSocialMovementsManchester:ManchesterUniversityPresspp1-23BarnesMandPriorD2009SubversiveCitizens:power,agencyandresistanceinpublicservicesBristol:PolicyPressBasokT.2008Constructinggrassrootscitizenshipfornon-citizensPeaceReview20pp265272

CohenS.2006DeportationisFreedom:theOrwellianworldofimmigrationcontrolsLondon:JessicaKinsleyCraigG.,DawsonA.,MajellaK.,andGillM.2005Asafeplacetobe?ThequalityoflifeofasylumseekersinSheffieldandWakefieldHull:UniversityofHullCrosthwaiteS.2006BeatingsandSugarPlums:NewLaborswarontheKurdsCounterPunchNovember3rdwww.counterpunch.orgDorlingD.2009ATaleofTwoCitiesSheffield:SheffieldUniversity

FarrarM.1999SocialMovementsinaMulti-EthnicInnerCity:Explainingtheirriseandfallover25yearsinBagguleyP.andHearnJ.TransformingPolitics:PowerandResistanceLondon:Macmillanpp87-105FarrarM2004SocialMovementsandthestruggleoverraceinToddM.andTaylorG.edsDemocracyandParticipation:popularprotestandnewsocialmovements London:Merlinpp218247Fekete,L.2009ASuitableEnemy:Racism,MigrationandIslamophobiainEuropeLondon:PlutoHomeOffice2007EnforcingtheRules:AStrategytoEnsureandEnforceCompliancewithOurImmigrationLawsLondon:UKBAKhanM2008MilitantSheffield:fromAsianYouthMovement1980stoMuslimYouth2001onwardsBurngreaveMessenger15 thFebruarywww.burngreavemessenger.orgLansleyS.,GossS.WoolmarC.eds1989Councilsinconflict:riseandfallofthemunicipalleftBasingstoke:MacmillanLondonEdinburghWeekendReturnGroup1980InandAgainsttheStateLondon:Pluto


12/13

12

MaddisonS.andScalmerS.2006ActivistWisdom:PracticalKnowledgeandCreativeTensioninSocialMovementsSidney:UNSWPressNOII(No-OneisIllegal)2007Campaigningagainstdeportationorremoval;buildingananti-deportationcampaign,apracticalandpoliticalguidetofightingtoremaininthiscountryBolton:NOIIaccessedatwww.noii.org.uk191109

PriceD.2008SheffieldTroublemakers:rebelsandradicalsinSheffieldhistoryChichester:PhillimoreandCompanyRentonD2006Whenwetouchedthesky:theAnti-NaziLeague1977-81Cheltenham:NewClarionPressSivanandanA.2006Race,TerrorandCivilSocietyinRaceandClassvol47no3

SeydP.andWhiteleyP.1992Laboursgrassroots:thepoliticsofpartymembershipOxford:OxfordUniversityPress

SquireV.2009MobileSolidarities:theCityofSanctuarymovementandtheStrangersintoCitizenscampaignMiltonKeynes:OpenUniversityTarrowS.1998PowerinMovementCambridge:CambridgeUniversityPressTaylorI.,EvansK.andFraserP.eds1996ATaleofTwoCities:Globalchange,localfeelingandeverydaylifeintheNorthofEngland.AstudyinManchesterandSheffieldLondon:RoutledgeVerkaikR.2007Austrian company offers to remove UK's 'disruptive' migrants inadapted aircraft Independent 27th December www.independent.co.uk

WebsitesASSISTwww.assistsheffield.org.uk CampaigntoStopDeportationstoIraqhttp://www.csdiraq.com/CityofSanctuarywww.cityofsanctuary.org/sheffield CommitteetoDefendAsylumSeekerswww.defend-asylum.orgConversationClubswww.conversationclub.org.uk

MedicalJusticeNetworkwww.medicaljustice.org.ukNationalCoalitionofAntiDeportationCampaigns www.ncadc.org.ukNorthernRefugeeCentrewww.nrcentre.org.ukStopDeportationNetworkhttp://stopdeportation.net/


13/13

13

MethodologyThepaperisbasedondeskresearchandtheactivistresearchexperienceoftheauthorsandqualitativeresearchinvolvingstructuredinterviewswith14activistsandaseriesoftelephoneinterviewsandconversationswitharangeofactivists.Theapproachisinfluencedbyideasofreallyusefulknowledgeandthevalueofthewisdomofactivists(SeeMaddisonandScalmer2008)ThegeneralargumentisstructuredaroundSidneyTarrowsnotionofcontentioussocialmovementsTheirreducibleactthatliesatthebaseofallsocialmovementsiscontentiouscollectiveactionCollectiveactionbecomescontentiouswhenitisusedbypeoplewholackregularaccesstoinstitutions,whoactinthenameofneworunacceptedclaims,andwhobehaveinwaysthatfundamentallychallengeothersorauthorities.Contentiouscollectiveactionisthebasisofsocialmovements,notbecausemovementsarealwaysviolentorextreme,butbecauseitisthemainandoftenthe

onlyrecoursethatordinarypeoplepossessagainstbetterequippedopponentsorpowerfulstates.(Tarrowp.3)

Documents

The Politics of Anti Deportation