For immediate release
16 June 2016
French border police ban aid convoy from sailing from Dover
A huge aid convoy to Calais is being banned by French border police in Dover.
The 250 vehicle mercy mission has been planned for months and is now facing a last minute ban by the French border controls that exist at the ferry port in Dover.
Campaigners are calling for David Cameron to intervene so that the much needed aid for refugees can be delivered. They describe the response as ‘phenomenal’. A 38 tonne truck is to head up the aid Convoy to Calais.
Sam Fairbairn said: ‘This is Europe, there is supposed to be free movement of people. It’s unacceptable that we can’t even get across the Channel to deliver aid to desperate people’.
Organisers have offered to meet outside Calais in order facilitate efficient delivery.
‘Its adding insult to injury leaving refugees in a perilous state in Calais and then denying aid and solidarity on a false pretext’, said organiser Weyman Bennett .
The convoy is going to go to Dover whatever happens, organisers say: ‘We will be calling on all our supporters to turn up in Dover and demand that we are allowed to get on the ferry we have booked and paid for’.
‘We are calling for a mass protest at this undemocratic and authoritarian decision, we demand that the British government tell the French authorities that this is unacceptable and that we should be allowed free passage’.
As a recent Amnesty report suggested that 70% of the public think that the government should be ‘doing more to help those fleeing war and persecution’, masses of aid was collected across the country.
The Convoy has been organised by: Stand Up To Racism, The People’s Assembly and Stop The War Coalition
Supported by:
Momentum
Muslim Association of Britain
Unite
Unison
CWU
TSSA
PCS
ASLEF
FBU
Care4Calais
Woodcraft Folk
Humanitas
There will be a press conference and Photo call 11am tomorrow morning (Friday 17th June), at the lock up facility where the Aid donations are being stored.
Address:
Access Self Storage – Kings Cross
Belgrove House,
London
WC1H 8AA
Organisers are available for interview: email info@standuptoracism.org.uk for press inquiries.
Sign the petition to the French embassy https://www.change.org/p/embassy-of-france-in-the-uk-ambassade-de-france-au-ru-convoy-to-calais-let-us-pass