“It leaves me stunned!” Protest against slavery in Libya
by Johanna Heuveling, Pressenza, 26 november 2017.
This Saturday, about 3000 Africans from all countries
of the continent and their supporters came together in front of the Libyan
embassy in Berlin, in order to protest against slavery, rape and abuse
committed against their sisters and brothers in Libya. They were very angry but
remained peaceful, while the police was present in big numbers to protect the
embassy, and also started to control newcomers to the demonstration. Many
demonstrators perceived this as a provocation and a biased protection of the
Libyans.
of the continent and their supporters came together in front of the Libyan
embassy in Berlin, in order to protest against slavery, rape and abuse
committed against their sisters and brothers in Libya. They were very angry but
remained peaceful, while the police was present in big numbers to protect the
embassy, and also started to control newcomers to the demonstration. Many
demonstrators perceived this as a provocation and a biased protection of the
Libyans.
To begin with, the protesters accused the politics of
the European Union and NATO of legitimizing these human rights abuses.
the European Union and NATO of legitimizing these human rights abuses.
We had a very moving interview with Victoria Baxter
whose family originates from Ghana. She explained how stunned she was by her
experience in 2017 when she confronted slavery. She criticizes the inefficiency
of the European Union that seems overburdened by the consequences of its own
policies, but is also too proud to accept proposals for constructive solution.
Black people were still abused as slaves and the Europeans knew that. Still
they support the Arab world with money and weapons and pretend not to see what
is happenning. This is a shame, she says. She demands that all the citizens of
the EU, who pay taxes and therefore finance these actions, should stand up and
protest, instead of agitating against refugees. In the end, everything would
fall back on them: “Raise your voice against your politicians, not against
refugees! If they do not start to act today, I wouldn’t like to be in their
shoes. The people will not be stopped.”
whose family originates from Ghana. She explained how stunned she was by her
experience in 2017 when she confronted slavery. She criticizes the inefficiency
of the European Union that seems overburdened by the consequences of its own
policies, but is also too proud to accept proposals for constructive solution.
Black people were still abused as slaves and the Europeans knew that. Still
they support the Arab world with money and weapons and pretend not to see what
is happenning. This is a shame, she says. She demands that all the citizens of
the EU, who pay taxes and therefore finance these actions, should stand up and
protest, instead of agitating against refugees. In the end, everything would
fall back on them: “Raise your voice against your politicians, not against
refugees! If they do not start to act today, I wouldn’t like to be in their
shoes. The people will not be stopped.”
