[slideshow_deploy id=’1483′]The Convoy to Calais is on the move. People who are not travelling have lined the street to wave it off.
Before moving off people listened to speeches from supporters including Diane Abbott MP who brought greetings from Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, Micheline Ngongo, who was a refugee herself, John Rees, Zita Holbourne of Barac, Shahrar Ali of the Green Party John Hilary of War on Want.
From 8.30am hundreds of people and vehicles assembled in Whitehall. The street rapidly filled with an articulated lorry and two lanes of cars, vans and mini-buses from opposite Parliament up to Downing Street.
Some people joining the convoy from round the country have not been able to come to London. Julie Bremner from Norwich Stand up to Racism said that they have organised two mini buses, including one from the local mosque, and are bringing 26 people to join the convoy st Dover. “The convoy has brought together the movement and the trade unions,” she said. “We raised over £2,200 in total for refugees. This is making s real difference to attitudes in Norfolk. We’ve got people in the mothers union getting really angry. It’s about keeping pressure on the Norfolk county council who have not yet accepted any refugees. ”
Passengers on the packed Stand Up to Racism student coach are chanting, “brick by brick, wall by wall, racist borders have to fall!” and “We are black, white, asian and we’re Jews… and we’re gay. And there are many, many more of us than you”.