In Calais, solidarity with the sans papiers
PHOTO ESSAY: Jessica Mudditt reports on a protest for open borders at the wasteland migrant shanties in France.
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Jessica Mudditt went to Calais, France, to photograph a demonstration for freedom of movement and the abolition of immigration controls.
Protestors at the week-long No Borders Camp wanted to highlight the plight of around 1,000 migrants who had hoped to cross the English Channel to claim asylum in Britain, but remain stuck in a stretch of wasteland nicknamed ‘the jungle’ by Calais’ main port. These migrants are sans papiers – paperless undocumented migrants.
‘The jungle’ is a rough area which came into existence in 2002 when Britain pressured the French government into closing the infamous Red Cross refugee centre at nearby Sangatte. It is estimated that around one million undocumented migrants live in England, and seven million throughout Europe. Every night of the week, hundreds of migrants try to board UK-bound lorries and ferries heading for Dover.
Read Jessica’s photo essay on the No Borders Camp protest here.
Jessica Mudditt is an Australian-British journalist and photographer living in London. Visit her website here.
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