Although the climate of terror unleashed in Manolada after the shooting of workers, who demanded six months of unpaid wages from their employer, more than 2000 immigrants take part in a demonstration supported by the Labor Unions.
Greek and immigrant workers march together a distance of a 6 Km, from Manolada to the Police station of Varda town and back.
On the way workers from the strawberry fields are constantly joining the
protest. The workers chant: "What do we want? Legal papers!",
"Freedom-Liberte!", "Never again fascism","Hands off immigrants". They
hold flags and the main banner that reads: "Legal immigrants and
organized in trade unions."
During the demo around 2,000 migrants, many of whom are without papers,
("sans-papiers") fill out applications to create a Union of Migrant
Workers to collectively fight for their rights and to stop terrorism of
bosses and racism.
The anti-racists who organize and support the demo stress "the
connection between the crimes of the bosses and the racist policies of
the government that doesn't legalize migrants, takes back the limited
rights of citizenship from the children of migrants, organizes special
police corps to chase them and lock them up in concentration camps,
keeps borders closed leading to the death of people in the sea, in the
river between Greece-Turkey and in the minefields."
Protestors showed that it is the the rage, and not the fear who
dominates , the hope and not despair, the mood for a massive
organization and not individuation.
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Migrant and Greek workers protest and march in the farms of Manolada. |
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Migrant and Greek workers protest and march on the farms of Manolada. |
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Migrant and Greek workers protest and march on the farms of Manolada. |
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Migrant and Greek workers protest and march on the farms of Manolada. |
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Immigrants fill out applications to create a Labor Union. |
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Immigrant workers mainly from Bangladesh protest
in the central square of Manolada holding a banner that reads: "From
Manolada to Dhaka, Islamabad & Cairo, Workers United shall win". |
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Migrant and Greek workers protest and march from Manolada to the Police station of Varda town. |
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Immigrant workers mainly from Bangladesh protest
in the country road that joins Manolada and Varda. Banner in Greek
language reads: "Legal immigrants organized in trade unions." |
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Immigrant and Greek workers protest and march in
the country road that joins Manolada and Varda holding flags and
chanting slogans. |
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Immigrant workers mainly from Bangladesh protest
in the country road that joins Manolada and Varda. Banner in Greek and
Bangladesh language reads: "No sacrifice for plutocracy". |
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Immigrant workers mainly from Bangladesh protest
in the country road that joins Manolada and Varda. Banner in Greek and
Bangladesh language reads: "No sacrifice for plutocracy". |
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Immigrant workers protest in the country road that joins Manolada and Varda chanting slogans for immigrants legalization. |
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Immigrant workers protest chanting slogans, near
the Police Station of Varda. On the banner a Greek word can be seen,
that reads: "Immigrants". |
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Immigrant and Greek workers protest in Varda town and are going back to Manolada. |
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Riot Police move close to the protest march of the Immigrants near the Police station of Varda. |
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An immigrant protester jumps into the air while chanting slogans during the march. |
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Immigrant workers (Strawberry pickers), protest in
the country road that joins Manolada and Varda. Banner in Greek
language reads: "Legal immigrants and organized in trade unions. " The
sketch depicts the Minister of Police affairs, Nikos Dendias. |
Video: Immigrant workers defy shootings and demonstrate in Manolada.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K304i75Xr7s
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