Today Thousands of African Refugees, many here illegally, demonstrated in Tel Aviv at Rabin Square. The general theme of the protest and strike centered around the detainment and in some cases imprisonment of some of the refugees. Here are some photos from the event.
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- Headline: Strike
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- Eritrea flag
According to Israel Yayom
The protesters declared a general strike by migrant workers that would start on Sunday and apparently last for a week.
“Our strike is not an act against our employers, but rather an act of protest,” demonstrators said. “We are aware of the risk of losing our positions and our livelihood by going on strike. This move is meant to show Israel that we chose to flee here because our lives were in danger in our homelands. We are seeking asylum here. Finding work is not the reason we came to Israel.”
A Sudanese asylum-seeker named Basso said, “Omar Bashir, president of Sudan, has been massacring my people in the Nuba mountains for years. I was part of a rebel group and if I am deported back to Sudan, I will get the death sentence. I haven’t seen my family for years, and it is my dream to reunite with them soon. I am a wanted man in my homeland and I am seeking protection here. I’m not a criminal and don’t understand why Israel would want to put me in prison.”
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- Headline: Strike
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- Eritrea flag
