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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Angry students storm university | Angry students storm university |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| Students have occupied part of a London university in a protest over the detention of nine cleaners arrested by immigration officers. | Students have occupied part of a London university in a protest over the detention of nine cleaners arrested by immigration officers. |
| Five cleaners at the School of African and Oriental Studies (SOAS) in Bloomsbury have been deported in what students call an "act of revenge". | Five cleaners at the School of African and Oriental Studies (SOAS) in Bloomsbury have been deported in what students call an "act of revenge". |
| The cleaners were involved in a "living wage" campaign and the students say that is why SOAS called in police. | The cleaners were involved in a "living wage" campaign and the students say that is why SOAS called in police. |
| The Home Office said the cleaners were illegal workers and had to be removed. | The Home Office said the cleaners were illegal workers and had to be removed. |
| More than 40 students occupied the director's office at 0930 BST on Monday, saying SOAS's reputation had been "tainted" by the incident. | More than 40 students occupied the director's office at 0930 BST on Monday, saying SOAS's reputation had been "tainted" by the incident. |
| The message is that they are happy to employ migrant labour on poverty wages, but if you complain they will send you back home John McDonnell MP | The message is that they are happy to employ migrant labour on poverty wages, but if you complain they will send you back home John McDonnell MP |
| They refused to leave until director Paul Webley agreed to write to the Home Secretary on behalf of the cleaners. | |
| One of the occupying students said: "Universities should be sanctuaries, places free of violence and aggression. | One of the occupying students said: "Universities should be sanctuaries, places free of violence and aggression. |
| "SOAS's reputation as a university has been tainted due to the complicity with state brutality in the arrest of the cleaners." | "SOAS's reputation as a university has been tainted due to the complicity with state brutality in the arrest of the cleaners." |
| The students said all the cleaners should be able to stay - regardless of whether they have legal permission to work in the UK. | The students said all the cleaners should be able to stay - regardless of whether they have legal permission to work in the UK. |
| Labour MP John McDonnell has given his backing to the cleaners. | Labour MP John McDonnell has given his backing to the cleaners. |
| He said said: "As living wage campaigns build in strength, we are increasingly seeing the use of immigration statuses to attack workers fighting against poverty wages. | He said said: "As living wage campaigns build in strength, we are increasingly seeing the use of immigration statuses to attack workers fighting against poverty wages. |
| "The message is that they are happy to employ migrant labour on poverty wages, but if you complain they will send you back home. | "The message is that they are happy to employ migrant labour on poverty wages, but if you complain they will send you back home. |
| "It is absolutely shameful." | "It is absolutely shameful." |
| 'Working illegally' | 'Working illegally' |
| But the Home Office said the cleaners, mostly from South America and Africa, were illegal immigrants. | But the Home Office said the cleaners, mostly from South America and Africa, were illegal immigrants. |
| A spokeswoman said: "Nine individuals were encountered working illegally on 12 June. | A spokeswoman said: "Nine individuals were encountered working illegally on 12 June. |
| "Five individuals were subsequently removed from the United Kingdom and three remain in custody pending removal. " | "Five individuals were subsequently removed from the United Kingdom and three remain in custody pending removal. " |
| She continued: "We will not tolerate illegal working." | She continued: "We will not tolerate illegal working." |