Ibrahim from Algeria has been seeking asylum in Britain since 2005. He was educated to university level in Algeria without a leader, when both the Algerian National Army and armed Islamic militias began to take part in violence and human rights abuses directed at the Algerian civilian population, Ibrahim fled the army in protest and went into hiding in the mountains. After writing a book in exile, he was accused of being anti-islamic by mkilitants and fled to England where he sought asylum

He has spent years waiting for repeated negative decision from the authorities, moving from house to house, surviving on next to nothing: not being legally allowed to work, and denied access to benefits and education. Finally he decided to apply to voluntarily return to Algeria, despite the obvious danger, but this also was refused on the grounds that they could not obtain a travel document for him (these are issued by the Algerian Embassy who normally refuse to issue them). So, here he is – in an endless limbo; a horrific and dehumanizing no man’s land with no options left.

Ibrahim has finally and bravely decided to sleep out on College Green, in front of Bristol City Council, he has been sleeping there every single night since the 1st of July to tell his story openly, without fear or shame, to put it into the hands of the authorities and the British Public, hoping through this peaceful and poignant protest that the long years of waiting and suffering may finally be resolved.

If you wish to support him, there is a petition that you could sign at http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/stop-the-destitution-of-asylum-seekers.html in support for Ibrahim and for the many other destitute asylum seekers living in limbo, who experience absolute and severe poverty, who have no money and accommodation or the right to work and support themselves. In supporting the motion, it is believed that the Council can send a strong message to the UK Government that its inhumane and ineffective policy of forcing people who have been refused asylum into abject poverty onto the streets of our city is unacceptable to the people of Bristol.

Today, 35 people gathered outside Trinity Police Station to protest against the detention of 8 people by United Kingdom Border Agency. They held a banner saying “Eight Detentions is Eight Too Many and passing cards beeped their horns in support.

One asylum seeker from Buruni was detained at 11am by officers carrying guns and was visibly shaking and terrified during the forced detention. She is currently being held despite her having an active legal case which means she is not able to be deported.

Home Office policy is that no one should be detained unless they are going to be deported, yet today they have detained at least two people with no legal reason. This create massive fear among asylum seekers that they also could be put in a detention centre and deported at any moment. This is a form of psychological torture, this is wrong and should not happen said Claire Hall from Bristol Anti-deportation Network.

This protest builds on the success of the Dignity for Asylum Seekers demonstration in June which saw 250 people march for an end to destitution, detention and deportation and on protests in College Green in support of Ibrahim who has been sleeping there for over three weeks in protest of the forced destitution of asylum seekers

In response to the LOCOG brand police, PRSC are organising a exhibition of 'Illegal' art: 

The premise of the Olympic Ideal is that individuals, not countries, compete peacefully against each other in sport without the burden of politics, religion, or racism. The Spirit of the Games has been lost as it succumbs to corporate sponsors, nationalism and terror threats. The Games becomes a burden on taxpayers, a threat to our civil liberties and is increasingly resented. The Olympic Brand Police wander the country clamping down on interlocking doughnuts and words like Gold, Silver and Bronze. No Comment & Typowriter address  this incessant circus of fear with an anti-Cultural Olympiad of Poster Art. Time to celebrate the fun and games of 2012 in defiance of the Olympic Symbol (Protection) Act. (More info on PRSC site)

| London 2012: Banksy and street artists' Olympic graffiti (BBC) | PRSC | Olympic mascots made for Locog in Chinese 'sweatshop' factories – report (Guardian) | Drop DOW Chemical as partners for the London 2012 Olympic Games (change.org) | Olympics: Brand police out in force in Cardiff to check shops and bars (walesonline) | Britain flooded with 'brand police' to protect sponsors | stoptheolympicmissiles.org |

We Are Bristol want to thank you once again for the support given by trade union and other groups to our peaceful counter-demonstration against the racist EDL on Saturday July 14th.  More than 1000 joined our march and rally and we were proud to march together to join Pride at the end of our demonstration. We also note that more than £500,000 was spent by the authorities in the city in accommodating the EDL march, yet at the same time a grant of just £30,000 has been denied to the organisers of St. Pauls Carnival, meaning that this year the city’s prime multi-cultural event will not take place due to lack of funding for security.

However, we have since heard of an astonishing attack by Liberal Democrat councillors on two of the speakers at our rally, Marvin Rees, Labour Mayoral candidate and Mike Wollacott (Labour Councillor for Brislington East and Communication Workers’ Union representative). The statement from the Liberal Democrats is printed below in full (follow link), and speaks for itself.

We would like to offer maximum support to our colleagues from the city’s Labour group and ask you urgently to offer your  trade union branch and personal support to the following statement which we will send to the City Council leader and to the press and media.

Full article.