Detention centre for Undocumented Migrants Occupied and Wrecked


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On 26 January 2002 part of the 'Movement of and for Disobedients' (Movimento delle/dei Disobbedienti) occupied and completely dismantled an area of the detention centre for undocumented migrants in Via Mattei in Bologna (Italy). It was a non-violent act of social disobedience and at the same time determined to achieve its aims of making the detention centre unusable.

The reaction of the police was disordered, and totally out of proportion. While negotiations were going on with the police/officials (in the presence of European Parliament members, councillors of Rifondazione Comunista and the Green Party)  to let the demonstrators inside the wire of the lager  to leave peacefully,  the police charged. Several people were injured. 

Overall the action was a great success. This action was the first step of the campaign of the 'Movement of and for Disobedients'  following the demonstration of 150 000 people on the 19th January in Rome.

In Rome, the local 'Movement of and for Disobedients' will announce a date for a demonstration outside the Ministry of the Interior (Home Office) in support of solidarity and against anti-migrant detention centres, following the example set in Bologna.